Belmont Bi-Weekly Newsletter - September 11

Dear Belmont Families, 

We just wrapped up week three and our Belmont students are off to an amazing start! We are proud of how they have adjusted to the routine of school and love their enthusiasm each day. We know that the start of school is a big adjustment for not just students, but families, too. Thanks for all you do to get your students here each day ready to learn.

Speaking of learning, all of our students are currently being assessed using the NWEA/MAP Growth Assessment. Kindergarten through third grade students are also being screened using the mCLASS DIBELS Next assessment. Both assessments are used in determining next steps for students in need of interventions and/or extensions. The NWEA/MAP Growth Assessment will be given again in the winter and spring as a way to help us monitor student growth and achievement.

Today, all students should be coming home wth Shine Bright, Belmont fundraising information. We are doing a launch at school the afternoon of September 14 in hopes of getting students excited to fundraise for our awesome, little school. Thank you in advance for helping them with this...it is greatly appreciated!

With gratitude,

Rachel DeKuiper, Principal

rmdekuiper@rockfordschools.org

616.863.6362

fALL fAMILY nIGHT - SAVE THE DATE

Family Night volunteers

The PTO is looking for middle school students who would like to volunteer at Belmont Elementary's Fall Family Night on September 18 from 6:00–8:00 PM.

Volunteers will help make the evening fun and successful by:

• Face painting
• Assisting with games and activities
• Helping keep the playground clean and organized throughout the event

This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours, give back to the community, and have fun while helping younger students and their families.

If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up using the link below. We appreciate your willingness to help make Family Night a memorable event!

Middle School Volunteer Sign-Up for September 18th

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 

Week three is in the books!