The Rock Creek Parent Reader

Dear Rock Creek Families,

As we welcome the month of September, I want to extend a warm greeting to you and your family. The new school year is off to a great start, and we are excited about the many learning opportunities and activities ahead.

Key September Highlights

1. Back-to-School Bytes: On Tuesday, Sept 10th we will be sending out a link for you to be able to click on your child's teacher and learn more about how they run their classroom. This will be an opportunity to learn about the curriculum and understand their expectations for the year. Be watching for this!

2. Classroom Routines and Expectations: By now, students have been introduced to their classroom routines and expectations. It’s important for these routines to be reinforced at home to help your child adjust smoothly. Regular homework, reading time, and a consistent bedtime are key elements in supporting your child’s success.

3. Fall Assessments: Throughout September, students will participate in various assessments to help us understand their current levels and guide our instruction. Please encourage your child to do their best, but also remind them that these assessments are simply tools to help us learn more about their needs.

4. Parent-Teacher Communication: We believe that communication between home and school is essential for your child’s success. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns. We will also be sending out regular updates through email, text messages, and monthly school-wide newsletters.

5. Safety Reminders: As the school year begins, please be mindful of our drop-off and pick-up procedures to ensure the safety of all students. We also encourage all parents to review our school’s safety protocols with their children and note that we will have our first ALICE Intruder Safety Drill on Thursday, Sept. 26th at 2:00 PM .

We are grateful for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education. September is just the beginning of what we know will be a successful and rewarding school year. Together, we can make this year one of growth, learning, and fun for our students.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We look forward to a wonderful month ahead!

Mrs. Lisa Gebbie, Principal

Yes, my last name has changed! I got married over the summer.

• When dropping off and picking up your student, please pull as far forward as possible each day. If a staff member is motioning for you to pull down further, please do so. This helps keep the flow of traffic moving.
• Always use the crosswalk for safety and to help us set a great example for our students.
• Never allow your student to get out of the car in the left lane.
• The side parking lot and drop off/pick up lanes is for buses only. Do not use this area to drop off your child.
• Please be kind and courteous to others.
• Don't park in handicapped spots if you don't meet the requirements. This takes away those spots from others who truly need them.
• Never leave your vehicle unattended in the drop-off lane.
• Parents are not allowed past the gate. You are more than welcome to stay behind the fence and observe until students are brought inside, but please do not go onto the playground.
• If you have family members or friends picking up/dropping off your students please remind them of these procedures too.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact administration. Click HERE for a presentation on our drop-off and pick-up procedures!

Monday, Sept. 2nd- Labor Day: NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, Sept. 3rd- Girls on the Run starts. Click HERE for more details!

Friday, Sept. 13th- Data Day for Teachers: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Sept. 25th- Family Fitness Night from 5:00-6:30 PM

Thursday, Sept. 26th- ALICE Intruder Safety Drill at 2:10

Friday, Sept. 27th- Spirit Day and Spirit Wear Orders are Due

Thursday, Oct. 10th- Individual Picture Day (Class pictures will be in the spring)

Tuesday, Oct. 15th- Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night from 6:00-8:00 PM

Thursday, Oct. 17th- Fall Choir Concert at 7:00-7:30 PM 🍁🎵

We are excited to embark on a new school year at Rock Creek Elementary, with a strong focus on fostering a productive and engaging learning environment. This year, we are introducing a creative initiative called Attendance Taters to promote consistent student attendance.

Each classroom will be assigned a Potato Head, and students will have the opportunity to add a new piece to their Potato Head each week based on the class’s weekly attendance. Research shows that students who miss even a few days each month are at a significantly higher risk of academic challenges compared to those who attend regularly. To address this, we have designed this initiative to make attendance both enjoyable and motivating.

We will display pictures of the Potato Heads in the hallway to celebrate and recognize the efforts of our students. We believe this fun and visual representation will encourage students to attend school consistently and contribute positively to their academic success.

We look forward to a successful year and appreciate your support in reinforcing the importance of regular attendance.

School Hours

Monday (early release): 8:00AM to 2:00PM

Tuesday - Friday: 8:00AM to 3:00PM

Breakfast opens at 7:35 AM daily and supervision on the playground begins at 7:35 AM.

The safety of our students is very important to us, please do not drop students off at school before 7:35 AM and be timely picking them up at the end of the day.

Counselor Lessons: This year the special teachers will be teaching lessons every Monday to support your children. The first lessons your child will be learning about for the next four Mondays are Meet the Counselor, Kindness, Self-control, and Good Attendance. Next week the students will be doing a kindness activity with their classes by writing letters and drawing pictures for the firefighters fighting fires in the Wapiti Fire in Idaho.

How You Can Help at Home:

Stop: Identify how you are feeling and calm down using a coping tool

Think: Is this in or out of my control? How can I solve the problem?

Act: Solve the Problem-ask for help if needed. Be a flexible thinker.

Kindness: Being kind is a skill that we can practice just like math, science, or reading. It starts by helping our children recognize when a friend or family member is upset or needs help. Then, we can encourage kind behavior by suggesting ways to be kind and compassionate — and make the situation better. (“Miss Whitney next door fell and sprained her wrist. Ouch! Let’s water her flowers for her until she feels better.” “Hmmm, it seems like your little brother might be feeling left out of our game of catch. Let’s ask him to play with us — or find something we all want do!”) Help your child learn to be kind by reading picture books about compassion, pointing out when someone is kind to you and your family, and encouraging your child to explore all the wonderful ways we can be nice to others using the Daniel Tiger and Arthur activities below!

Questions to Ask Your Child:

1. How does it make you feel when someone is kind to you? How can you show kindness to your friend, brother or sister/family?
2. How can you be a good friend?
3. How can you include others?

Community Supports:

• Resources for Families- The district is offering the Student and Family Assistance and Program (free counseling sessions) for our students and their families again this year.

• Need Help? Idaho Lives Project Website http://www.idaholives.org Idaho Suicide Prevention Program (208) 258-6990 Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline 988

• Food Bank: Rock Creek partners with Robert Stuart and Harrison Elementary. Community food bank information and resources are available.

• Hygiene Kits: comes with a towel, soap, deodorant, shampoo, tooth brush, etc.

Rock Creek is proud to introduce our new PTO Co-Presidents, Mikayla Carhuas & Rachel Gardner. We look forward to a fantastic partnership this year!

Will you be volunteering this year for field trips, classroom parties, etc.? Get a jump start and complete the background now check https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjYyOmVuLVVT

Lunch is not free to all students at Rock Creek. If you have any questions about payment or completing the application for free or reduced lunch call 208-733-0134. We encourage you to complete the form as soon as possible because there is not back payment once you qualify for free and reduced lunch. You can also pay lunch balances online or at the office.

Lunch account balances add up quickly. It's important to keep up on payments to avoid a large bill at the end of the school year. Unpaid account balances also follow your student from year to year.

Breakfast Prices: $1.65 students

Lunch Prices: $3.00 students

60¢ extra milk

Follow the link to complete the free and reduced meal application and/or pay online: https://www.tfsd.org/departments/federal-programs/food/

Rock Creek Elementary School is looking for Reading Corps tutors for the 2024-25 school year. You can take action in our community by giving your time and talent to help students build their skills and confidence!

Tutors work one-on-one or in small groups with students during school hours throughout the school year. Whether you are a recent grad, career changer, stay-at-home parent or retiree, you can make a great tutor! No experience? No problem. With training and on-site coaching, our tutors are prepared to help kids succeed.

Part-time and full-time positions are available beginning in August, October and January. Tutors receive a paycheck every two weeks plus up to an additional $5,100 for college tuition or loans (tutors 55+ may gift the education award to their child, grandchild, stepchild or foster child).

Ready to put your passion in action to help to help more children succeed? Learn more or apply at Join.ReadingandMath.org.

Questions? Email join@ampact.us or call 866.859.2825.

Email: honasli@tfsd.org
School Website: rc.tfsd.org

District Website: tfsd.org
Location: 850 Federation Road, Twin Falls, ID, USA
Phone: (208)732-7565
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prfile.php?id=100063781904437