Welcome to Rolling Ridge Elementary and to the 2024-25 school year! I am thrilled to be serving this amazing community for a third year.

Excitement is building as teachers have returned to school and preparing for a wonderful year ahead. We are anticipating the return of students, families and volunteers into our halls! Many of you are returning families and other are joining the community for the first time this year. No matter how long you have been apart of Rolling Ridge, it is wonderful to have you here and we look forward to an exciting year of learning, growing and celebrating academic success. I have selected our building theme for the year: The Sky is the Limit! Students will be doing lots with setting goals and reaching for the stars!

* Class Assignments - Assignments are now available through ParentVUE.

* Parents/Visitors - We love our RR families and are excited to have families back in our buildings to visit us. We encourage you to come for lunch, volunteer in your child's classroom, go on field trips and other opportunities throughout the year. We are looking for parent volunteers this year to make this a wonderful and memorable year for your child. We also need volunteers in the lunchroom from 11:00 - 1:15PM.

- Contact your child's teacher for classroom and extra curricular opportunities.

- Contact the school office for lunchroom volunteer opportunities.

* Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) is back at Rolling Ridge. PBIS promotes school safety and behavioral expectations. Students in each grade can earn tickets as we catch them engaged in our expectations centered around being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. We will have new opportunities for students to redeem tickets this year. We will continue to emphasize a bully-free environment.

* Lunch Schedules - Our lunch schedule will be as follows:

- Kindergarten at 11:00

- 1st Grade at 11:30

- 2nd Grade at 11:55

- 3rd Grade at 12:50

- 4th Grade at 12:15

- 5th Grade at 1:05

You are welcome to visit our lunchroom and/or bring a special lunch in for your child. Please do not bring outside food for children other than your own.

* Breakfast - Your child will have an opportunity to participate in our "Grab-and-Go" style again this year. Breakfast will be served from 8:45 - 8:55 in the classroom.

* Students in Kindergarten - Kindergarten teachers are eager for another fun start with Camp Kindergarten. To find out more about Camp Kindergarten, please come to Sneak-A-Peek. Kindergarten families are also invited to Popsicles on the Playground on Thursday August 1st from 3:30-4:30. Kindergarten teachers request that you do not send supplies with your student on the first day of school. Please e-mail one of the kindergarten teachers with any questions.

* iPads - Every student will be issued and iPad. iPads will primarily remain on campus being sent home on an approved or directed basis.

The Elementary Supply List is attached below. Several of our teachers have posted their preferred class supply list on the PTO Facebook Page: Rolling Ridge Elementary PTO, Olathe, KS.

Or go the the District Website to see the latest school supply list.

On Monday, August 12th from 4:15 - 6:00PM families are invited to our annual "Sneak-A- Peek" to kick off the school year. You will be able to visit the classrooms, meet teachers, bring school supplies and enjoy a popsicle.

Make sure to drop by the Library for a brief Back-to-School presentation. I will be presenting multiple times so check on the Library door the times to come join me!

The Library hallway will also hold our Community Expo! There will be meet and greets from several of our partners including Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTO, and more!

Thank you to our PTO for providing popsicles!

See you then!

August

Aug 1 - Popsicles on the Playground (Kindergarten Event) @ 3:30

Aug 5 - Spirit Wear Sale Begins

Aug 12 - Sneak-A-Peek

Aug 13 - 1st Half Day of School K-5th Grades - Dismissal @ 11:30

Aug 14 - First Day of School for Early Childhood

Aug 14 - First Full Day of School (Kindergarten - 5th Grade)

Aug 20 - Donuts with Grownups @ 8:00 in the Gym

Aug 30 - Early Dismissal @ 12:10

September

Sept 2 - Labor Day - No School

Sept 12 - PTO Meeting @ 6:00

Sept 12 - Papa John's Pizza Night Fundraiser

As a parent of Rolling Ridge, YOU have the opportunity to support your child by helping on our Parent Teacher Organization. Please join our Facebook Page "Rolling Ridge Elementary, PTO". More information to come!

August 12 - Sponsoring Popsicles for Sneak-A Peek 4:15-6:00PM

August 22 - First PTO Meeting @ 6:30

September 14 - Papa John's Pizza Night Fundraiser

September 14 - PTO Meeting @ 6:30

Rocket Run - Details coming soon about our School Wide Fundraiser!!

Thank you to all of our past and current parent volunteers who help us so much. It is because of our fantastic parent volunteers that student Field Trips are possible. Our paid field trips are 100% possible because of the work of our parent volunteers! Thank you!

We are looking forward to the help from all of our families this year!

The link below will take you to all the menus for the district for August.

You will need to load your child's lunch account so they will be ready to go on the first day of school. If you haven't done this already, please use the link below for information and the MyPaymentPlus website. Some of you may need to create an account, again the link below will direct you the site.

Another step in the registration process is paying fees through your TouchBase account. Please use the link below for more information and the link to the TouchBase site. Some of you will need to create an account, again the link below will direct you to the site.

At SCHOOL, we are committed to finishing the school year on a strong note, and regular attendance at school makes all the difference. Your child's regular attendance at school is invaluable, not just for their academic growth but for their social and emotional development too. Your child is a vital part of our school community, and every day they're absent, we miss the opportunity to partner with them on their educational journey and watch them learn and grow.

Together we can work to ensure they can make the most of every school day, building a foundation for a bright and successful future.

If you're facing obstacles to regular attendance, please reach out. We're more than ready to collaborate on making school a priority for your child.

The safety of your children is of utmost important to all of us. Please review the following guidelines and safety tips.

During Sneak Peek you will receive information on our CARDS Dismissal (Careful And Rapid Dismissal System) and share with us your child normal arrival and dismissal routine.

Arrival

• All students will enter through the main entrance.
• Please be mindful of the transportation buses and vans.
• Doors open at 8:35 am, please do not drop your child off or send them to school before 8:35 as there is no supervision for students before this time.
• Students must be IN their class at 8:55 in order to be counted as on-time.
• Please instruct your children to be prepared to enter and exit the car as quickly as possible.
• Adults should not exit the vehicle, staff will assist loading students into cars.
• Students should always enter and exit vehicles on the passenger's side.
• Drive slowly (10mph or less) and exercise courtesy and PATIENCE to other parents and patrons.
• Do NOT use cell phones while driving on school property. Drivers must be alert at all times.
• Do NOT park in front of the school on Elm Terrace for arrival or dismissal. This has been a directive from the Olathe Police Department which will monitored by the OPD. The reason is for the safety of our crosswalks and walkers using those paths in addition the need for emergency vehicle access.

Dismissal

• If you child's typical dismissal changes, please contact the office AND your student's teacher before 3:15PM.
• Walkers will be dismissed through either the East Doors (near the flagpole on the Elm Terrace side) or the West Doors (on the Montclair Street side).
  
• All cars need to line up along the north side of West Elm.
• Current Car Tag Numbers must be visible from the rearview mirror.
• If you do not have your car tag number, you will be asked to park and pick up your student from the office. This is to ensure safety that the adult picking up has rights to have the student released to them.
• If no one is at the doors at dismissal to pick up students that require supervision for walking home, they will go to the gym and be dismissed either as a car rider or you will need to wait until all car riders have been dismissed and pick them up from the office

Thank you for your patience during these extremely busy times!

I believe in strong lines of communication if you need to reach me here are several options.

Email: dmhaldeman@olatheschools.org
Website: https://www.olatheschools.org/rollingridge/
Location: 1500 West Elm Terrace, Olathe, KS, USA
Phone: (913) 780-7650
Twitter: @RRrockets