Rockport Elem. News

F E B R U A R Y 2 01 5

In this issue: W O R D S R E A D C L U B

A new initiative celebrating our accomplished readers.

D O N ’ T B E A B U L LY

A report written by two of our 4th grade students who are passionate about the issue.

N W E A M A P N I G H T

The latest in our Title I parent outreach.

T E S T T I P S

What can you do as a parent to prepare your student for testing?

C O L L E G E A N D C A R E E R M O M E N T

Update on testing from Principal Meyer.

WORDS READ CLUB We have started something new in the library. The kids are very excited about this and are very amazed that it is reachable. We have started a Words Read Club. Once a student reads 500,000 words (noted by the records held in Renaissance Place) their name goes up on the wall. Their name will move across as they reach 600,000 words read, 700,000 words read, etc. until they reach One Million Words Read. At the end of the year these students will be recognized and receive a special reward. Once a student makes it into the “One Million Words Read Club”, their name will remain on the wall forever. We have one student, so far, who has made it into that club. His name is Tyler Swanagan. Tyler is a fourth grader in Mrs. Eble’s class. A very close second is Reagan Lawrence. Reagan has read 797,042 words. Reagan is a fourth grader in Mrs. Newton’s class and has the determination to reach the “One Million Words Read Club”. Other students who have read 500,000 or more are: Olivia Conrad, Jose Teniente, Evan Price, and Allison Puckett. These students are all fifth graders.

HAVE YOU MOVED OR CHANGED YOUR NUMBER Have you recently moved or changed your contact phone number? If you have, have you contacted the front office to update your contact information? For the safety and protection of your student it is necessary that we have a working phone number to reach a parent/guardian in

the case of an emergency. Also, it is required that we have a current address. If you need to update information, or have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the office at 649-2201 or email aaron.meyer@sspencer.k12.in.us.

NWEA MAP NIGHT Rockport Elementary held the first NWEA MAP Parent Orientation Night on February 11, 2015.    During the meeting, parents were presented with information about the purpose of MAP testing, how to read a Student Report, and were able to take a sample test. Parents were also given a Parent Tool Kit of resources to help their student improve MAP scores.

SPRING CARNIVAL The spring carnival is coming April 11, 2015. Be on the lookout in backpacks a n d i n t h e e m a i l s fo r Volunteer forms and donation forms.

We will have entertainment this year: 4-H Cloggers, Crown Pointe Dance Studio, & Rockport Elementary Student Talent Show. We also have lots of new games, prizes, raffles, & auctions.

This is the event that allows us to purchase school supplies for our students. We are one of the few schools in the area that is able to do this due to generous donations of time and resources. Please volunteer to help out and stay to have fun .

CHOOSE TO DO WELL

T r u e o r F a l s e : standardized tests are tough. The answer depends on how prepared you youngster is. Here are three ways to help him or her handle test week:

1. Explain that the test will show how much they have learned. Encourage them to try their best, but don’t put so much emphasis on them

t h a t t h e y f e e l stressed.

2. Limit activities the night before tests. You may want to avoid having guests for dinner or skip a siblings game if it means being out late. Be sure your child gets to bed on time and sets an alarm for the next morning.

3. On test day, give them e n c o u r a g e m e n t before they leave the house and if they eat at home include both p r o t e i n s ( e g g s ,

yogurt, milk) and carbohydrates (fruit, oatmeal, toast).

SHORT NOTES P i c t u r e t h i s : G o o d readers for m mental pictures as they read to improve your child’s comprehension read a book without letting them see it. Then, ask them to g u e s s w h a t t h e illustrations look like. Examples: How are the characters dressed? Is the setting bright or gloomy?

At Rockport, our school community has a commitment to:

Increased academic achievement

Developing positive relationships by practicing mutual respect

Celebrating the diversity of learning styles and cultures

Providing a safe environment Where each child, each day, is a success!

UPCOMING DATES AND HAPPENINGS Here are a few things to look out for as we In the coming month 2015.

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

Friday March 13th

DR. SUESS WEEK

Next week last months newsletter for more information

ISTEP ISTEP testing will begin the week of March the 2nd there are lots of tips in this issue. Breakfast and snacks will be

provided for students that week.

SCIENCE NIGHT

Wed, March 18th from 5-7 pm.

SPRING CARNIVAL

spring carnival is coming April 11, 2015

COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS MOMENT Greetings Rockport Families

What a time to have a week off of school. Those temperatures and snow are something else. I hope that everyone has stayed safe and warm during the cancelations. Things at the DOE have been a bit frosty lately as well. There has been lots of press about testing. It is easy to get caught up in news stories about Executive Orders and stripping of powers, eliminating this and reducing that. Making sense of it all could become a full time job. I want to assure you that the focus at Rockport is, was, and always will be, educating your students to the best of our ability. We are teaching your students each and every day to be the best people they can be academically, emotionally, and socially. Regardless of the buzz around us, we will stay the course. We will make decisions every day in the best interest of children. We will create testing schedules which will ensure that students do not spend inordinate amounts of time testing each day. Those are commitments from me to you, principal to parent, parent to parent. At Rockport, your child’s development is a priority that will never be sacrificed. If your child suffers from test anxiety and feels nervous or stressed about coming to school on the day of tests, make sure to get them to bed early, feed them a hot breakfast, and teach them some breathing techniques for relaxing. We will join your efforts in trying to provide a calm and clean testing environment full of educators who believe in them and their efforts and abilities!

If you have questions or concerns about testing, please feel free to call me or email me. And as always, we appreciate you and we thank you for the opportunity to educate your child!

Your Principal,

Mr. Meyer

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE This is coming up on March 13th. We are looking forward to a great turn out. This event is open to all girls Pre K through 5th Grade.

STARTS AT 6:30 ENDS AT 8:30

C O S T I S $ 10 P E R COUPLE

PICTURES WILL BE AVAILABLE

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED.

THERE WILL BE A P R E - S A L E F O R CORSAGES.

J O I N M Y R E M I N D 101 group so I can s e n d y o u t e x t updates: In your "To" box enter: 81010

In your message box enter: @rockporte

NOT EVERYONE HAS BEEN A BULLY OR THE VICTIM OF BULLIES, BUT EVERYONE HAS SEEN BULLYING, AND SEEING IT, HAS RESPONDED TO IT BY JOINING IN OR OBJECTING, BY LAUGHING OR KEEPING SILENT, BY FEELING DISGUSTED OR FEELING INTERESTED.

B u l l y i n g h u r t s feelings so don't bully. When you

bully you get in trouble. We don't need bullying because it hurts our feelings. What is bullying? Bullying is when someone keeps doing or saying something to have power over another person. They say it's just teasing but it still hurts. Bullying is not a game. Bullying is calling people names and

saying nasty things. Why do people bully? They say it as a way of elevating oneself, or making oneself look tough and in

charge. Some bullies do it to get attention. Bullying hurts inside and out. Be a Buddy Not a Bully! By:Christina Martinez & Hannah Puckett

DON’T BE A BULLY

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200 S. 6th St. Rockport Indiana 47635, T 812-649-2201, aaron.meyer@sspencer.k12.in.us

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