Weekly Update

Dear ROCS Community,

As you all know, the Festival of Courage was very different this year in that it only included students and staff. The day just wasn't the same without our ROCS families present, therefore, we plan to create a special slide show to share with the community...more information on how and when it will be shared is coming soon.

In addition, I would like to acknowledge everyone's patience and understanding these past two months as we have opened school amidst the ongoing pandemic, with a state-wide teacher shortage and many students who are still transitioning to being on campus after almost two years of distance learning.

As your new administrator, I am grateful to be serving alongside ROCS dedicated staff during such an unprecedented time in our history. Also, I am honored to join in the shared vision of ROCS to create an enriching, safe and positive school experience for our students, and I wanted to thank all of you for giving us the opportunity to teach your children and for supporting our program!

We look forward to gathering with as a community going forward, and we are collaborating with Mendocino County Public Health to put in place possible guidelines for outdoor events!

With Gratitude,

Kristi McCullough

ROCS Administrator

Thank you for following our COVID protocols at ROCS.

We have recent guidance from MCPH for parents:

• ROCS will allow 1 vaccinated parent per class to volunteer each day
• ROCS has been allowing walking field trips
• ROCS will allow driving field trips with a vaccinated parent as a driver for students outside of the drivers household, all passengers masked and windows down enough for ventilation

As usual, we are testing 25% of our school each week and following safety procedures and protocols. We are consistently collaborating as a staff to ensure that we are following our school guidelines and procedures. Please reach out to our COVID coordinators if you have further questions! call 707-467-1855

River Oak Charter School (ROCS) suffered a deflating loss to Mendocino on Wednesday,

September 22, with a final match score of 2-0. In the first set, the Firebirds were never really able to get any momentum as their only lead in the entire set was 4-3. Mendocino was ready, and got out to a quick lead of 10-6 and never looked back. River Oak was able to make a tiny dent, getting as close as 9-12. However, Mendocino’s serves proved no match for the Firebirds, scoring an incredible 10 points in a row and defeating River Oak soundly, 25-10.

The Firebirds suffered 13 dig errors and only 4 earned points in the first set. The second set began with the Firebirds finding themselves in a 0-4 hole. River Oaks serving specialist, Varsity Gaches, stepped up to the line, serving 5 aces. Due to several scoring errors by the scorekeepers, gameplay was paused as they tried in vain to sort it out. After that, River Oak put the scoring mistakes behind them and the Firebirds jumped out to a 23-19 lead. Then, with a beautiful bump-set by Adia Davis to Lola Pearson who successfully landed a kill, gave River Oak another earned point.

However, Mendocino was able to answer, scoring 7 straight points, giving them a 25-24 lead. (Volleyball requires a set or match win by 2 points). Gaches was able to sneak a tip over the net to knot it back up at 25. River Oak committed several errors, losing a chance at an undefeated season and allowing Mendocino to win the set and match. The final score was 25-27.

When asked what the team could have done differently, Adia Davis said “ I think (we need to) control the ball, because a lot of the time when we lost a point it was because someone shanked it off their arm.” She also added “You need to remember who the setter is, because everyone just freezes when the second ball comes.” Lola Pearson said “ I think there were just simple mistakes and we need to work on certain situations that we don’t have at River Oak.”

Statistical updates:

● Varsity Gaches is averaging 8 aces per game

● Adia Davis is averaging 5.3 digs per game

● River Oak had 26 dig errors against Mendocino last Wednesday; they had only 19 total before traveling to the coast.

-Kaleo Olson

River Oak played their second match against Pomolita on Monday, defeating them easily 2 sets to none.

River Oak jumped out to an early lead in the first set with 4 aces from Varsity Gaches, leading to a 6-0 score. At one point, the score was 13-8 (ROCS leading) and Coach Rebeakah Martinez called a time-out to sort things out.

River Oak then scored the next 12 points to win the set. The second set was more of the same. Pomolita was not able to return the powerful serves from the Firebirds.

River Oak finished the second set with 13 aces. 6 from Adia Davis, 5 from Lola Pearson, and 1 each from Varsity Gaches and Lily Wheeler (respectively). River Oak’s biggest lead in the second set was 19-4 and the Firebirds finished the set out with a score of 25-8.

When asked what was important to winning this game, Adia Davis said “Energy, confidence, and serving”. Lola Pearson added, “We changed our rotation, which helped, I think it was important to put the last game behind us and not play down to the other team’s level and get in our own rhythm.”

The next time that the Firebirds will meet Pomolita, will be ROCS’s final game of the season on October 27th, you won’t want to miss it.

Updated Statistics:

● Varsity Gaches is averaging 9.3 aces per match.

● ROCS had 15 serving errors against Mendocino; they only had 6 serving errors against Pomolita.

● Adia Davis had a 90% point serving average in the second set.

~Kaleo Olson

• Oct 4, 11, 20, 25, 26, 27 ROCS Volleyball Games
• Oct 8 Festival of Courage Slideshow (More info coming soon)
• Oct 18 Charter Council Meeting
• Oct 20 Educational Foundation Meeting
• Oct 29 Halloween Parade