Oak Leaf Weekly Update

Happy November Break ROCS Community!

As we said goodbye to students for the week break, we reflected on our first trimester and how we made it through such a unique start to a school year!

Our school community has consistently adapted, and we are so thankful for the support of our families following our new guidelines and procedures so we can be open, and our authorizing district, Ukiah Unified, for the meal program, student services and the partnership.

Family and district support are the backbone of our independence and contribute to our long standing history in Mendocino County.

On Friday, our students and staff gathered for an appreciation circle and shared our gratitude out loud-for we have so much to appreciate!

Enjoy the week and the highlights below, and our next update will be out after the holiday to prepare us for the coming trimester.

In the River Oaks’ first basketball game of the season, the Firebirds Girls A team lost to the

Upper Lake Middle School Wildcats. The Firebirds started out looking good on defense. River Oak only allowed 2 points for the Wildcats in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Firebirds only scored 4 points in the first quarter.

Early in the third quarter, point guard Varsity Gaches picked up her 5th foul leaving the Firebirds with only 4 players on the court. The Firebirds then dropped into a 2-2 zone. (A 2-2 zone means that 2 people stay near the three point line and 2 people cover the area near the basket.) The Firebirds kept the game close despite having 4 players on the court. Kaylee Maynard helped River Oak stay in the game with 4 key free throws in the beginning of the fourth quarter. Then when ROCS fans thought it could not get any worse, Daphne Phillips picked up her 5th foul and on the same play Veva Caborn took a shot to the face leaving the Firebirds with only Maynard and Scout Adams left on the court. Eventually, Caborn was able to come back into the game but it was not enough, River Oak was not able close the gap, losing 27-22.

When asked what she said to the team when the Firebirds only had 2 players on the court, coach Rebekah Martinez said, “My message was just don’t quit and they didn't, and I'm super proud of them. What can I say, they threw all their effort into it but it didn't work out our way. But it's just the beginning of the season.” When asked how the team was able to keep it close, Maynard said“ It helped that we were in the bonus so I got to shoot (free throws) a lot”.

- Kaleo Olson