Matt Zokoe - Principal
mzokoe@rockfordschools.org
Address: 6849 Young Avenue, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6340
From The Desk of Mr. Zokoe
Next week, RPS will take a break from learning to celebrate Thanksgiving break beginning on Wednesday, November 26. This is a chance for everyone to recharge, relax, and ready ourselves for December! Please enjoy the time away with family and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone return on Monday, December 1.
Our November character trait focus is integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. When students practice integrity, they learn that trust is built through honesty and consistency. This important trait helps students develop into responsible and dependable individuals whom others can count on. We will continue to focus on integrity through our RAMS model when working in the classroom. We can show this by being Respectful when using the materials appropriately, being prepared, and raising our hand to speak. We can demonstrate this by being Accountable when we are ready to learn, trying our best, staying focused, and actively participating. We can be Motivated by completing our class work, working hard, and doing our personal best. We demonstrate being Safe by paying attention to our teacher, following instructions, walking within the building, keeping our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves, and talking to an adult when we feel overwhelmed. Please continue to help support our RAMS model at home by reviewing these with your learner.
Next week, we will celebrate our students of the month during our MTSS-Behavior assembly on November 25. Students are encouraged to wear their DEN color for our assembly. During lunch, our students earned enough DEN points to have a hot chocolate party! Congrats, students, on working hard at being RAMS!
In partnership,
Matt Zokoe
Winter Concert - December 1st
The Holiday Concert is on Monday, December 1, at Rockford High School. We look forward to celebrating with you a great time of the year through song and performance. Please see the details from Mrs. McCloskey in the attached packet for when to drop off your student for the performance.
The shows will begin in the auditorium as follows:
Grades K/1 performance 5:45-6:10 pm
Grades 2/3 performance 6:30-6:55 pm
Grades 4/5 performance 7:15-7:50 pm.
One thing that will be most helpful for the evening concert is having your student sit near you when not performing. Thank you, and we look forward to a wonderful night.
Click here for : Lakes Winter Concert Information Packet
Cannonsburg Punch Pass
Cannonsburg Punch Cards are now available. Lakes' sponsor is Matt Zokoe. Cannonsburg Punch Cards
Cannonsburg's punch cards offer discounted lift tickets so that students in kinderfarten through 12th grade can enjoy winter to the fullest! Punch cards also offer discounts on rentals and private lessons. There are options for 6 and 10 punches.
Ages 7-10 can get 6 punches for $120 - a savings of $9.17 per lift ticket.
Ages 11+ can get 6 punches for $160 - a savings of $28.34 per lift ticket.
From the Shelf of Mrs. Van StenSel
Battle of the Books - Reading needs to be completed by January 9th. Please make sure to turn in your signed question and answer sheets for each book! The Grand Battle will take place Friday, January 30, 2026 at Rockford High School.
How to Volunteer
Step 1 : Get involved! Contact the PTO for volunteer opportunities, become a daily volunteer, sign up to be a Watch D.O.G., or check your teacher's newsletters for additional classroom opportunities.
Step 2 : Complete a background check online. Background checks can take 2-3 weeks to process so please complete it early! Names are not cleared until teachers, PTO, or volunteer coordinators know that you are coming in. So DON'T hesitate to sign up for a volunteer opportunity, but DO make sure that you have completed the online form this school year! Forms must be resubmitted each school year.
Step 3 : This one is on us! We'll contact our security department to run your background check, and then you will receive an "All Clear" email!
Step 4 : Bring your Driver's License on your volunteer day! Scan the back of your license, smile for a picture, and we'll direct you down to your classroom or volunteer space.
Thank you for supporting our Lakes community!
Daily Volunteers
We are seeking parent or family volunteers to support our learning community at Lakes daily. We are seeking support for both our lunchroom and recess spaces during the day. Parents will be aiding in activities that will allow our students to continue to grow in social situations here at school. Your participation is greatly appreciated!
Current Available Options:
- Lunchroom - 11:15 am - 12:50 pm
- Lunch Recess - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Last Recess - 1:50 pm - 3:25 pm
Volunteers Needed!
Hot Chocolate Party
Our students have been working so hard this year on their R.A.M.S behaviors! All six of our Den's have earned their Hot Chocolate party incentive. I would love for some grown-up volunteers to help put on this experience! The plan is for Tuesday, November 25th, during their lunch to receive their hot chocolate! I would love for volunteers to help with prepping the hot chocolate and assisting with topping selection for our students! Your support is much appreciated, and I can't thank you enough in advance for your willingness to celebrate our students. Please use this link to sign up for a slot!
-Mrs. Remtema, School Social Worker
Watch D.O.G.S
Watch D.O.G. Volunteer Sign Up
Watch D.O.G.S. is a nationwide program with two primary goals. To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important. As well as to provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security, reduce bullying, and promote good sportsmanship.
We offer two options to make it easier to get involved. When you sign up from the link in the Lakes Newsletters, you will select if you are full day or afternoon only.
First is a whole day from 8:25 am - 3:45 pm . You will support the building from drop-off until the pickup line is empty! This is how the program was designed and is the most preferred.
Second is a half-day option with a start at 11:00am -or- 1pm until 3:45pm).
Watch Dog on Duty
Thank you to Mr. Parniske for joining us so far this week! We hope to see more of you soon. Do you have a question? Please email our Volunteer Coordinators - Mr. Low and Mr. Proefrock!
WatchDogsLakes@gmail.com
Lakes Supporting Lakes
Lakes Families- if you are looking for a way to support some of our Lakes families in need this holiday season, Mrs. Remtema would love to partner with you! We are looking to obtain gift cards for groceries, supporting gift giving, etc. If you're able to help support a Lakes Family, please reach out to Mrs. Remtema via email to coordinate- kremtema@rockfordschools.org.
Student Council News
Student Council will begin collecting items for our Toys for Tots drive beginning Monday, November 24th, through Thursday, December 11th. These new, unopened toys, art supplies, sports equipment, stuffed animals, and more will be going to children in our community to support their holiday celebrations in a time of need. Last year, we collected 101 toys, and our student council was featured on the local news! We are looking forward to this opportunity to practice giving, kindness, and gratefulness during this holiday season. Thank you!
Thank you to all the donations for Birthday Cake Kits! We will provide you with an update after we package kits next week.
Yearbook Sales are now open!
Yearbook are now available to be pre-ordered! Make your purchase today.
Lakes Yearbook ID is 14560826
Girls On the Run
GOTR is a program run through local schools to encourage girls to build relationships, develop life skills, and impact their communities - all the while being active.
Registration for grades 3-5 will open on December 1 and close on December 11. Sign ups will be by lottery and there will be a lot of competition for spots. Please consider joining us as a coach!
Coaches are needed for the upcoming season! At this time, we will only be able to plan for one team with no more than 15 students. Sign up will be by a lottery system.
Lakes PTO
November 13 PTO Meeting Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday at our PTO meeting. You can review the meeting minutes HERE. In addition to hearing about the great work led by the Rockford Education Foundation, attendees also had the opportunity to review eight grants submitted by staff this year. Voting members will be casting their votes and we will announce the results in the next couple of weeks. Thank you to teachers and staff who submitted their grants, we are looking forward to further supporting classrooms through these efforts.
Mark your calendars:
The next PTO meeting will be Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Lakes Elementary (Rm 25).
New Opportunities
We have a number of new volunteer opportunities available below. If interested, fill out our PTO Interest Form.
WEBSITE DESIGN : We are looking for a parent volunteer with experience in website design and development to help us launch a PTO website in an effort to enhance PTO communication efforts.
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE : This all-new committee will help oversee, develop, and promote sustainable practices and initiatives at Lakes, doing our part to be environmentally focused.
ROOM PARENTS: Do you want to be more involved with your student’s teacher and classroom? Room parents support unique classroom tasks or needs, as well as serve as a liaison for PTO and their committees.
Reminder: Activity Pass
As you know, your student's Activity Pass is their ticket to field trips (entry and transportation), as well as other fun and enriching activities throughout the school year. FOURTH GRADERS, heads up! Your field trip is coming up soon, John Ball Zoo School in January!
As a reminder, please review the Activity Pass amounts by grade and submit payment for your student. Have questions or need details on the Activity Pass? Click here!
Kindergarten ($82) - 1st ($67) - 2nd ($77) - 3rd ($98) - 4th ($133) - 5th ($127)
Pay Now online via Paypal or Venmo, or drop a check at the front office.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact Mr. Zokoe for a confidential discussion.
If you have a business that'd like to donate to the PTO scholarship fund to cover families experiencing financial hardship, please contact the PTO for more information.
Thank you to our business sponsors this year! Their generous contributions help our scholarship fund. A warm and hearty high five to the following businesses: 85West Dental, SixOneSix Dentistry for Children, Douglas Photography, Integrated Packaging Machinery, Rockford Self Storage and Swift Printing!
Join the PTO!
Join our team of parent volunteers as we enhance the learning and educational experience of students and staff at Lakes Elementary. Work alongside fellow parents, get to know Lakes teachers and staff while making a positive impact on our school. We have many volunteer roles available for the 2025-26 school year. CLICK HERE to fill out an interest form!
Helpful Links
Rockford Booster Bucks
PTO Linktree
PTO Email
Lakes RecyCling Initiatives
NexTrex Plastic Recycling
Our goal is to collect 1,000 pounds this school year so we can earn a new bench for our playground!
- Produce bags, grocery bags, ice bags, cereal box liners, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags - Plastics that can stretch.
- We've collected over 193 pounds of plastic so far this year!
Papergator Recycling
Papergator use can continue throughout the summer! The green dumpster is located in the side parking lot. Papergator can accept office/school papers, newspapers, junk mail, magazines, shredded paper, and cereal boxes (paperboard that can be torn), etc.
Pop Can Tabs
Pop can tabs are collected in the office and sent to the Ronald McDonald House. Please bring to Mrs. Low in the office.
Upcoming Dates
- 11/25 : Hot Coco Party during lunch (Volunteers still needed!)
- 11/26 - 11/28 : Thanksgiving Break
- 12/1 Lakes Winter Concert
- 12/1 - 12/11 : Girls on the Run Registration
- 12/10 : Early Release at 1:30pm
- 12/18 : Holiday Parties (details will come from classroom teachers or room parents)
- 12/22/25 - 1/2/26 : Holiday Break
- 1/5 - 1/9 : 4th Grade Field Trip
- 1/19 : No School for Students
- 1/23 : Popcorn Day
Important Links
After the Bell - Rockford Community Services Registrations
North Kent Connect October Resources
School Assistance Program Information
School Lunch Offerings : You can also download the NutriSlice App
