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Wednesday,  May 15, 2024


“EC1 IS OUT OF THIS WORLD”


Calendar:

Monday, May 27th:  NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 28th:  11:30 Dismissal  (Currently Last day) 

30th Annual Rocket Football Golf Outing May31st~

We will be hosting the 30th annual Rocket Football Golf Outing 

@ Lincoln Greens Golf Course May 31st! For more information on golfing, sponsorships and silent auction action during this event, Head over to rocketgolfouting.com or email rhsrocketfootball@gmail.com

If you have a student that is going to enter Kindergarten in the 24-25 school year, please fill out the following form.

Kindergarten Screening

May Lunch Menu

MAY MENU

BLAST OFF ACADEMY INFORMATION:

IF YOUR CHILD IS SIGNED UP AND GOING TO BE ATTENDING THE BLAST OFF ACADEMY ON MAY 28TH, PLEASE CONTACT ME BY FRIDAY, MAY 24th! THE 28th IS AN EARLY DISMISSAL DAY AT 11:30am AND I WILL NEED TO KNOW WHO I NEED TO SEND TO THE ACADEMY ON THAT DAY.  WE DO NOT WANT TO PUT SOMEONE ON A BUS IF THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE STAYING.  IF YOUR STUDENT IS NOT STARTING UNTIL A LATER DATE, I DO NOT NEED TO KNOW. I ONLY NEED TO KNOW THE KIDS FROM EC1 WHO ARE STARTING ON TUESDAY, MAY 28th!  

YOU CAN CONTACT ME, JULIE BEARD, AT (217)498-9778  OR BY EMAIL @  JBEARD@rochester3a.net.  THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE!

Dear Rochester Families,

We are overjoyed to announce that our “Blastoff Kids Academy” Summer Camp now has 100 students enrolled! We are looking forward to welcoming those children for a summer of fun and learning. We recognize the critical importance of early childhood education in laying the foundation for a child’s future success. 

Because we have reached this level of enrollment, we will be moving to a waitlist policy. We still encourage families interested to join the waitlist in the possibility that a slot becomes open.

Again, thank you for the overwhelming support. 

It’s a great day to be a Rocket!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Shaw

Blastoff Kids Academy Director

https://www.rochester3a.net/page/blastoffkidsacademy

Prekindergarten at Rochester EC-1

Do you have a child that is or will be age 3-5?  They are eligible for our prekindergarten program.  If you are interested in our at-risk and tuition-based programs, please contact Sloane at 217-498-6210 ext 61522 to set up a screening for your child!

RES PTO

  • Volunteer Form

  • Box Top for Education 

  • Other important information

Link to stay in the know with the PTO


UPCOMING PTO EVENTS:

PTO Happenings:

  • Don't forget to scan your receipts for the Box Tops For Education Challenge!  Help your child's classroom win a prize.  Sign up at www.boxtops4education.com  Use referral code: 

  • QEQ52AOW

Due to grant funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, Rochester CUSD 3A will be opening a needs-based prekindergarten classroom in January 2024.  Please contact the District Office for more information.  217-498-6210 ext 61522

EXTRA CLOTHES:        This is a huge necessity!!


Please send in an EXTRA OUTFIT for your child to keep at school. They are needed for all grades Pk, K and 1st!  There are many times a child could need a change of clothes. It could be for a bloody nose, milk spill, if they fall in a puddle, or have an accident. We have a very LIMITED supply of extra clothes at the school. We have already run through a lot of our supply and we are only a couple weeks in.  Besides, kids are much more comfortable in one of their own outfits. We try to avoid having to call a parent for a change of clothes when something occurs. Please help us by sending them in. We appreciate your help with this matter. 

**ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING LATE BUSES, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR CALLS TO THE BUS GARAGE.  (217)498-9834

**If you plan on picking up your children due to a double bus route, we ask that you pick them up at their own buildings. Please do not have them shuttle to the EC1 to be picked up here or they will be put on a bus and sent back to their building.  They should only be picked up at the EC1 building if they are current students.  We appreciate your help with this matter.

***PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING LATE BUSES TO THE BUS GARAGE. THEY CAN BE REACHED AT (217)498-9834.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION:

Transportation Changes: 

Parents may make up two choices for bus transportation. Examples: home and daycare. You will be asked to specify your two choices at the beginning of the year. We would also appreciate no transportation changes the first two weeks of school, as we are trying to finalize bus assignments and routes. Any special plans for after school which require a change in transportation, should involve a parent pick-up at school or the regularly scheduled drop-off spot. Students will not be allowed to have non-school transportation drops, such as riding home with another student, scout settings, piano lessons, tutoring lessons, etc. Students will be placed on the bus if no note of call has been received by 2:00pm. Students will not be dropped off if the bus driver does not see any sign of someone being home. 

Parents are encouraged to send a note with their child the morning of a transportation change. For emergency purposes, transportation requests may be phoned in up to 2:00 pm. Parents who abuse the transportation system will be contacted by the administration and a letter will be sent home. 

If you plan on picking up your child early, please call in advance so we can notify the classroom teacher and get the student to the gym. The end of the day gets very hectic with over 250 children going in different directions. Any help with this matter is greatly appreciated. Our top priority is making sure every student makes it home safely. Thank you in advance. 

Parents may request a transportation change by phone prior to 2:00 pm. Please call 498-9778 (RES EC-1) or 498-6216 (RES 2-3). 


Please see the RES Handbook on page #34-35 for policy updates on transportation. 

Parent Drop-off at Rochester Elementary:

  • Students are to be dropped off in the DROP OFF ZONE designated in the front of the building

  • DO NOT get out of your car in the drop-off line

  • Students need to be able to get out of the car themselves

  • If a student is unable to get out of the car by themselves, parents are to PARK in the lot and walk the students to the crosswalk to a staff member.

  • Parents will not be allowed to enter the building.

  • All students enter the front of the building under the assistance of staff.

Just a reminder that the front doors do not open until 7:30am. If you could please keep your kids in the car until the front doors open, that would be greatly appreciated.

Bus Drop off:

  • School buses arrive at 8:10 a.m. and safely drop off our 2-3 students first, followed by the EC-1 students.

  • Staff are present to assist students from the bus to the classroom under staff supervision.

Parent Pick-up in front of the school:

  • RES students will be picked up by parents/guardians at 3:20p.m.

  • Parents will park and line up safely in an area designated by the building administrator.

  • Families will be provided ONE RES Pick up Ticket. The ticket will include the name of the student, grade, and classroom teacher.

  • Students will exit the building under the supervision of staff safely to a parent/guardian WITH THEIR TICKET.



Reporting Absences:

Parents/guardians must report an absence by calling the office prior to 9:00 a.m.

A note or email may be sent the next day the child attends ONLY in the event that the parent/guardian cannot report the absence by phone on the day of the absence.  The note or email must include the following:

  • Student’s name, grade, and teacher’s name

  • Parent’s/guardian’s name

  • Reason for absence


If a child is marked absent by the classroom teacher and NO CONTACT from parents/guardians has been made prior to 9:00 a.m., office personnel will attempt to contact parents/guardians to determine the reason for an absence.



BY DOCTOR’S NOTE: If a student is absent due to a medical or dental appointment, he or she must return to school with a written excuse from the doctor or a member of the doctor’s staff that includes the date and time of the appointment and the time the student left the office. If the note excuses an absence due to illness or injury, it must include the reason for the absence and the specific dates that the student is excused from school.

Safe2Help:

Safe2Help is a 24/7 program for students, staff, and families to share school safety issues, find resources to get help, and find encouragement to help others.  Anyone can call to talk to a trained staff member about abuse, bullying, depression, self-injury, or suicidal thoughts for themselves or other students.  You can access Safe2Help by calling 844-4-SAFEIL, texting SAFE2(72332), or emailing help@safe2helpIL.com.


Breakfast and Lunches:

Breakfast will be available to students every morning at a price of $1.45.  The lunch price is $2.85 and milk only is $.70 cents.  The menu for the month can be found on the Rochester 3A website under each building.  If you have questions or concerns please contact Aramark at 217-498-0139 or email to mwilhour@rochester3a.net.  Lunch accounts can be paid online with a fee or checks and cash may be sent into the office to apply to your students account.  Please make all checks payable to Aramark. 

Parents/Guardians may NOT attend lunch.

**The low lunch balance alerts have been reactivated for all families.  You will get an alert when your lunch balance is below $5.00.  If you choose to shut off the alert, you will no longer get any school announcements.


 ***PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S LUNCH ACCOUNT TO ARAMARK.  THEY CAN BE REACHED AT (217)498-0139.


Birthday Treats:

Birthday treats for students will only be able to be purchased through Aramark.  Store bought treats are not permitted to be brought into the building.  Birthday treat forms may be found on the Rochester 3A website under each building.  To ensure the treats can be ready Aramark requests your order to be placed one week in advance.  Treats cannot be paid for with your child’s lunch count.  You will need to send in the order form along with the exact cash or check made out to Aramark.  Personal checks without numbers cannot be accepted for payment.  If you have questions or concerns please contact Aramark at 217-498-0139 or email to mwilhour@rochester3a.net.


Lunch Choices

***Cereal offered daily for breakfast

Wednesday, May 15th:

BREAKFAST: Cinnamon Bun

  1.  Bosco Cheese Sticks w/Marinara

  2.  Cheeseburger

  3.  Ham Chef Salad

Thursday, May 16th:

BREAKFAST: Apple Frudel

  1.  French Toast Sticks & Sausage Patties

  2.  Ham & cheese Sandwich

  3.  Chicken Nuggets