Belmont Newsletter, August 28

Dear Belmont Families, 

We have had an awesome first week of school! We've got some tired students and staff, but it's only because they are all working so hard. We wrapped up our first week of school with RAMS Rotations.  We are committed to being respectful, accountable, motivated, and safe in every space and all the time at Belmont. Fifth grade families, you should be extremely proud. Our fifth graders are leading in many capacities and we appreciate them so much.  Please join me in thanking them for:

• helping second graders learn how to navigate their Chromebooks.
• supporting kindergarten students at lunch.
• presenting during RAMS Rotations and traveling with first graders.
• and guiding younger students during arrival and dismissal.

Speaking of arrival and dismissal, thank you for leaning into our new procedures. Ryan Morin, our School Resource Officer (SRO), was able to do a refresher course for those of us that serve as crossing guards at Belmont.  He reminded us that adults are who create traffic hazards for students. The most direct route is not always the safest route.  It is important for us as adults to model safe behaviors for our students.

• Please respect that all parent/guardian pick up students must exit the south doors. We have many exterior doors at Belmont, but only a few that we use for dismissal. This is to keep our students safe when exiting the building.
• Please respect that bus riders must exit through the front doors of the building.  Again, we have many exterior doors and knowing where are students are during dismissal is a priority.
• Please respect the student safeties and crossing guard. If adults ignore them, our students will too and that's not safe for anyone.

Thank you for sharing your students with us!  We look forward to week two and hope you have the best weekend.

With appreciation,

Rachel DeKuiper, Principal

rmdekuiper@rockfordschools.org

616.863.6362

belmont arrival procedures

All students including bus riders:

• can enter the building at 8:25 am
• must walk on sidewalks and in hallways
• are RAMS:  Respectful, Accountable, Motivated, and Safe
• can grab a free breakfast
• are tardy if entering the classroom after 8:40 am

Bus Loop:

• only buses may enter the bus loop from 8:20-8:40 am
• no parent/guardian parking or drop off from 8:20-8:40 am

South Parking Lot:

• single file drop off line along sidewalk
• please pull forward as far as you can to avoid back up on Belmont Ave
• drivers must remain in vehicle in this line
• students exit vehicles at 8:24 am on the sidewalk side and walk to the front doors of the school
• families parking in this lot must use caution and escort their students to the sidewalk

Crossing Guard Lot:

• may start crossing at 8:20 am
• must use crosswalk with crossing guard

THANK YOU FOR HELPING BELMONT STUDENTS 

START THE SCHOOL DAY POSITIVELY AND SAFELY!

Belmont Dismissal Procedures

All students including bus riders:

• must walk in hallways and on sidewalks
• are RAMS:  Respectful, Accountable, Motivated, and Safe
• will be dismissed by 3:35 pm; KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS WITH SAFETIES AT 3:30 PM

Bus Loop:

• only buses may enter the bus loop from 3:25-3:45 pm
• no parent/guardian parking or pick-up 3:25-3:45 pm

South Parking Lot:

• two lane pick-up line along sidewalk
• please pull forward as far as you can to avoid back up on Belmont Ave
• drivers must remain in vehicle in this line
• drivers must display family number from rear view mirror
• students may walk to vehicles if they are in first lane nearest the sidewalk
• students will be escorted to vehicles by an adult para if in the second lane
• families parking in this lot must use caution and escort their students to their vehicles from the sidewalk

Crossing Guard Lot:

• will start crossing students at 3:35 pm
• students must use crosswalk with crossing guard

THANK YOU FOR HELPING BELMONT STUDENTS 

END THE SCHOOL DAY POSITIVELY AND SAFELY!

Response to intervention

Please read the letter below to better understand how RPS responds when students need additional support in developing their foundational literacy skills. Thank you!

August 2026 

Dear K-5 Families, 

Rockford Public Schools is committed to ensuring all students learn at high levels. An important part of our commitment is implementing a comprehensive Response to Intervention (RtI) process to help students develop and increase their literacy skills.   

RtI is a structured, multi-tiered approach to help identify and support struggling students by providing high-quality direct instruction and intervention. This approach includes implementation of priority reading standards for content, identification of concepts and skills for student proficiency, and the utilization of assessment data to analyze student progress. RtI is a process to respond in a timely, targeted, and systematic way when students demonstrate the need for intervention. The RtI process includes the following steps: 

❖ Step 1: Universal Screening and Assessment Universal screening for all students will be conducted three times per year (fall, winter, spring) in grades K-5. Common grade level reading assessments will be administered frequently within our CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) units. These assessments will monitor student progress and identify student proficiency in comparison to grade level expectations.   

❖ Step 2: Analyzing Assessment Data Collaborative teams including your child’s classroom teacher, principal, instructional coach, reading interventionist, resource room teacher, speech and language pathologist, and school psychologist will meet to analyze performance on multiple assessments. This information will determine specific instructional interventions for grade level content and/or prerequisite reading skills.   

❖ Step 3: Instruction and Intervention The RtI process uses a multi-tiered system of reading instruction and intervention. Each tier has instructional support structures or interventions that help teachers implement research-based curriculum, instructional practices and interventions to improve student achievement. 

➢ Tier I Instruction for all students with grade level reading instruction. 

➢ Flex Time Intervention for targeted student needs in the classroom with reteaching or extension of grade level content from priority reading standards.   

➢ Tier III Intervention for students needing direct, intensive literacy intervention for skills well below current grade level benchmarks.  

Additionally, the Michigan Legislature passed the Third Grade Reading Law in 2016 to ensure that students exit third grade reading at or above grade level. In accordance with this law, the Rockford RtI process will be providing the required assessments, the identification process for students who need intensive reading instruction and intervention, and the instruction to meet individual student needs. The law also requires districts to provide early and regular written communication with parents of K-3 students who are not meeting proficiency targets in reading. 

If your child is in grades K-3 and not meeting benchmark through universal screening, classroom assessments, and flex time interventions, we will be contacting you with further information regarding Tier III interventions. Communication will include information about additional services provided for identified students with an Individualized Reading Plan (IRP) and strategies for you to help your child at home (a Read-At-Home Plan) if applicable.   

Rockford Public Schools focuses on literacy throughout the school day, but we still need your support. Family engagement plays a vital role in a child’s success as a reader. We look forward to building a partnership with you to develop successful and lifelong readers.  If you have further questions regarding the RtI process, please contact your building principal and/or your child’s classroom teacher. 

Sincerely, 

Michael Ramm, RPS Assistant Superintendent of Instruction 

Mindy Duba, RPS Director of Special Services 

Sharon Wells, RPS Director of Literacy