The Weekly Update #4

Dear RGS Families,

As we get through the winter and prepare for spring, we’d like to share more information about the Illinois Report Card and our Summative Designation. Our designation not only covers testing but it also covers student attendance and the truancy rate. Truancy is defined as: The Illinois School Board report card shows that RGS has a truancy rate of 20%. This year, we have made it a point to follow the district policy on absences and have communicated with families about absences in the 5-day and 10-day absence letters, parent phone calls, parent-teacher conferences, and home visits. We appreciate that students become sick, and encourage families to get notes for absences from their doctor. Please note, that when a student is sent home by the school nurse, these absences do not count against their attendance. We understand and appreciate that family is important. Vacations during non-break times of year do count against attendance. We’d like to encourage everyone to take care this semester as we head into the last half of the school year. As a friendly reminder, due to our emergency cold day this week, the last day of the school year is now May 30th, 2025.

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful break.

In the library this month 5th graders will be concentrating on research skills, including skimming and scanning for information, paraphrasing, finding and citing sources, all in preparation to complete a small research project in the library.

4th grade will be learning about what media is and how to use media responsibly.

3rd Grade will be participating in a fun activity where they find the answers to geography questions using atlases and maps.

Grades 1, 2 and kindergarten will be reading about the traditions of the new year celebrated here in the United States based on the solar calendar; as well as the Lunar New Year celebrated in China.

February is Health Health Month, it's never too early to start taking care of our hearts. The American Heart Association recommends children ages 6 to 17 get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Preschoolers and toddlers need even more than that. Don't let winter get in the way of heart health. You can still keep your child moving, even when they're stuck indoors. Here are some suggestions for physical activities your child can do inside from toddlers to teens:

Younger kids:

Have a dance party or march to music

Set up a furniture obstacle course through the house

Create a timed indoor scavenger hunt

Bring back classic games, like "tag", "duck duck goose", "Simon says", and "follow the leader"

Use colorful masking tape to create a hopscotch course on the carpet or use colored chalk on the garage floor

Make family chore time active with house cleaning that gets you moving - sweeping, mopping vacuuming

Clear some space for hula hooping or jump rope

Older kids:

Set up fitness stations throughout the house, push-ups in the living room, crunches in the kitchen, planking in the hallway and stair climb on the stairs

Follow a fitness video or app

Install a pull-up bar or set up an area for weights

Practice stretching and yoga

Indoor activity destinations for all ages:

Join a gym

Check out your community center for open gyms, indoor playgrounds and low cost classes

Ask about open swim times and activities at a public indoor pool

Sign your child up for dance classes, martial arts or other indoor sports

We may be in the middle of winter, but things are heating up in the Spanish room! We have been working hard to finish up with the old and begin studying the new. As I mentioned last month, our focus for the third quarter will be getting down to the basics of the Spanish language.

Fifth Graders are finishing up their review of the days of the week and the months of the year. They will then begin their unit on the basic foods in Spanish. We will be learning the words for types of foods, names of meals, and common individual food items.

Fourth Graders are working on the basic vocabulary words for the parts of the body. We are working on the memorization of the vocabulary, and students will be learning to correctly label a diagram of the body. When we are finished with parts of the body, we will be moving on to the Spanish words for discussing our favorite things.

Third Graders have begun learning the Spanish Alphabet. We will be focusing on the letters that are unique to the Spanish language, as well as the different sounds made by each vowel and consonant.

Second Graders have begun an informal introduction to the seasons. Winter vocabulary has been introduced, and we will also be learning some of the color words associated with winter. In addition, we will be taking a look at phrases and vocabulary words related to weather.

First Graders will continue their exploration of the Spanish words for members of the family. We will be focusing on learning vocabulary and being able to refer to family members with the correct Spanish word. In addition, we will be learning vocabulary related to El Día de San Valentín.

Kindergarteners have learned their primary colors and are moving on to the color green. We will continue our exploration of colors throughout the month. With each color, several activities are completed by students to help them remember their new Spanish word. They are very eager and excited to bring these activities home!

All grade levels continue to show an interest and desire in learning this new language. Watching them practice and use their words in the hallways, and other areas outside of the classroom, really warms my heart!

BINGO is on 1/31, forms can be turned in through Monday 1/27.

February Dates:

-PTO meeting on 2/5 in school library, babysitting available!

-McDonald’s PTO Night 2/19 4-7pm at the Richmond location. Come say hello to the 4th Grade Team!

-RGS Family Ice Skating on 2/23, registration due by 2/19 (forms will be coming home soon!)

SAVE THE DATE: Mother Son Bowling in Sunday, March 2nd! Registration forms will be sent home soon!!