RES Weekly Buzz

It's that time of year when we have spring weather one day, and winter weather the next. Thank you for sending your students in with layers as we adjust to the changing temperatures both indoors and outdoors! Just a friendly reminder to label your student's belongings, especially their outdoor gear. This helps the staff get jackets, sweatshirts etc back to their rightful owner.

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend full of sunshine and warmer temperatures!

See you Monday morning.

• April 1st: RES Spring Concert
  
• 6:30pm, RMHS Auditorium
• April 3rd: Rockport Integrated Preschool Open House
• 5:30-7pm, RES Pre-K classrooms
• See website for more information
• April 3rd-4th: RES Book Fair
• See below for more information
• April 9th & 10th: ELA MCAS Grades 3-5
• April 12th: 1/2 Day of school for both Staff & Students
• Pre-K Dismissal 11:30am
• K-5 Dismissal 12pm
• April 15th-19th: Spring Vacation
• April 30th & May 1st: ELA Math Grades 3-5

2023-2024 RPS School Calendar

2023-2024 RPS Music Calendar

All of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be taking part in MCAS assessments this spring. Please review the testing dates below. It would be extremely helpful if every effort is made to ensure that students are present in school and arrive on time on all MCAS test dates.

• April 9th and 10th: ELA MCAS - Grades 3-5
• April 30th & May 1st: Math MCAS - Grades 3-5
• May 14th & 15th: STE MCAS - Grade 5 ONLY

DESE MCAS Resources for Parents/Guardians

HELPFUL TIPS:

Parents and families can do several things to help their children prepare for MCAS testing and to foster a positive experience.

• Have your child bring a reusable water bottle to keep at their desk
• Make sure your child gets enough sleep the night before a test.
• Make sure your child eats breakfast the morning of the test. Breakfast is available here at RES.
• Ensure that your child arrives to school on time.
• Encourage your child to take their time and put in their best effort.
• Encourage your child to always check their work.
• Talk about the test in a positive way.
• Ensure your child that their teacher has provided them with excellent strategies to help them be as successful as they can be.

You are a key component in your child's success in school and life. Your interest and support let them know you believe in them and you value their education. We value our partnership. Thank you!

Rockport Elementary School Library will be running a Best Book Fair in the gymnasium on April 3rd and 4th. The hours are 8:30 AM- 4:00 PM both days.

• Students will be visiting the book fair with their class and will have the opportunity to purchase books at that time.
• If parents are joining their child at the fair during their class's scheduled time, they MUST bring a picture ID and check in at the main office.
• Parents and families are also welcome from 8:30 am to 9:00 am or from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Morning Music Schedule 23/24

Winter Session #2 of Before/After School Activities

Savings Makes Sense:

Grades 3-5 at RES on Thursdays 8:30-8:45am (RES Cafe)

Spring Run Club: Starts March 25th

RES Juggling Club:

Grades 2-5 at RES on Thursdays, 8-8:45am (RES Gym)

Project 351 & Cradles to Crayons are looking for gently used or brand new clothes for children across the Commonwealth. There will be a clothing drive from April 1st through April 5th in the Rockport Middle High School Lobby. There will be a labeled box in the lobby. Your generous donation will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

The Motif #1 Day 5K and 1 Mile road race/run/walk is set to take place on May 18th. This exciting event aims to build community spirit and support health and wellness initiatives at Rockport Public Schools. To participate, simply click on the registration link. If running isn't your thing but you still want to contribute, a donate link is available. Your support is invaluable in fostering health and wellness at RPS – thank you!

Sign up here

Registration is ongoing

This is for NEW students only.

Must be a Rockport Resident

Current students do not need to enroll again.

K/1 enrollment for *New* Students only

Rockport Integrated Preschool Information for 24/25

Rockport High School DECA is holding a Career Day at school on April 3, 2024 from 8AM-10:30 AM. We are in desperate need of professionals out there to volunteer time and join us that day. We are hoping we can get a variety of career choices for the students to hear about. It is a great way to give back to the students. Sign up here to participate. Please email DECA advisor, Scott Larsen, if you are interested or would like more details. slarsen@rpk12.org

Upcoming Events:

• Watch for upcoming events

PTO Membership Form

*** Updated COVID-19 Guidance from the

Massachusetts Department of Public Health ***

• If your child develops symptoms (fever, cough, congestion, etc.) of a respiratory virus, such as COVID-19, please keep them home until they are feeling better. For most respiratory illnesses, symptoms generally begin to improve after 72 hours.
• Your child may return to school as soon as they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of medications like Tylenol/Ibuprofen) AND once any symptoms have improved.
• Your child is no longer required to stay out of school for a full 5 days. However, if they are still within the first 5 days of the onset of respiratory symptoms and/or testing positive for COVID-19, your child should wear a mask at school and keep some distance between themselves and others.
• Please remember that masks should fit well and cover both the mouth and nose.
• If you have a child who is unable to wear a mask, please consider keeping them home until their symptoms have fully resolved.
• Follow good hygiene measures, such as frequently handwashing/sanitizing, covering coughs/sneezes, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and common spaces.
• If your child is exposed to someone with COVID-19 or another respiratory illness, they do not need to stay home as long as they remain asymptomatic. Please do an at-home rapid COVID test if they do become symptomatic or 5-7 days after initial exposure.
• Remember to get your child vaccinated annually for both COVID-19 and Influenza.
• Free rapid COVID-19 test kits are available from the Town of Rockport.

• Any elementary, middle, or high school positions that are open in Rockport Public Schools are posted here.

• Click here or scan our QR code to see all available positions.

Click the links below to access the various resources:

• RES Staff 2023-2024
• RPS Community Flyers

• Hidden Child of the Holocaust: April 7,2024, the Chabad Jewish Center of Cape Ann will have the honor to host Mrs. Janet Applefield as she shares her story of survival, hope, and resilience at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA. The lecture will be accompanied by a musical performance featuring the New England Klezmer, which includes Yaeko Miranda, Jim Prendergast & Sonny Barbato. For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit www.capeannsurvivor.com

• Rockport Community Easter Egg Hunt: March 30, 2024-Sponsored by The Cape Ann Chamber
• Positive Solutions for Families-

  Positive Solutions for Families beginning on Tuesday, March 5th at Pathways for Children, 5:00-6:30 pm for six weeks. This popular, FREE parenting program introduces great strategies for coping with the everyday challenging of parenting a little one. Please help us spread the word and see the flyer for all the details. This is offered by Pathways for Children in collaboration with the Gloucester Preschool and is open to all community families.

• K-8 Rockport Youth Basketball
• January - May 2024 offerings at Cape Ann Museum
• Cape Ann Youth Lacrosse