Blake Bowman - Principal
bbowman@rockfordschools.org
Michelle Smyth - Administrative Assistant
msmyth@rockfordschools.org
Tania Gordon - Administrative Assistant
tgordon@rockfordschools.org
Address: 8100 Courtland, Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: (616) 863-6342
december Character Trait: generosity
Definition: the habit of freely giving without expecting something in return
Challenge: give something (time, words of encouragement, a gift) to someone
Reflection: when you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence
Toys for tots
Thank you Meadow Ridge families for your generosity, we collected 423 toys! You can watch our student council members represent Meadow Ridge on WZZM13 at the 16 minute mark.
January outdoor learning
Our kindergarten and 1st grade classes will have outdoor learning lessons at Meadow Ridge after break. Please make sure they have appropriate winter gear.
- Tuesday, January 6th: Kindergarten classes (AM lessons)
- Thursday, January 8th: 1st grade classes (AM lessons)
No School
Monday, January 19th: No school - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Please note there are NO early release days in January.
Upcoming field trips
- Friday, January 23rd: 5th grade to JA Biztown
- Wednesday, January 28th: Kindergarten & 1st grade music field trip at East Grand Rapids Performance Center (no chaperones needed)
NWEA Testing
The Winter NWEA testing window is January 12-23. Please make sure your student(s) bring their headphones to school everyday.
yearbook Orders
Yearbook orders can be placed online using the ID Code: 14558526. Reminder that yearbook orders are separate from picture day order packages.
Hopper's happenings
My Holiday Checklist:
Get belly rubs
Spread cheer
Be silly
Wish everyone a paw-some holiday and the best winter break ever!
office Reminders
NEW Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures
Before School:
- Please use the student drop-off line. In the past, we have had ECSE buses in the loop until 8:25. That is no longer the case. So parents, feel free to pull up into our circle as early as 8:15, but remember, kids shouldn't exit your car until 8:25 because we don't have staff available to supervise them until that time. At 8:25, they can get out of your car and enter the building. Hopefully, not having cars wait at the lamppost (like previous years) will cut down on the traffic that reaches out to Courtland at that time of day, but some of that is inevitable. We're a busy school!
- Please don't drop off kids in the parking lot and expect them to find their way to the front of the school. Bypassing our student drop-off line might feel like it saves you a couple minutes in the morning, but our staff has witnessed kids tripping in the parking lot behind cars that are attempting to back up from their spots. It's just not safe. Please use our drop-off line.
After School:
- Please use the line for Parent Pick-Up. Even if it takes a couple extra minutes. This is the safest way to pick up your child.
- Kindergarten Parents can pull into the traffic circle as early as 3:20. We officially dismiss at 3:32, but our kindergarten students are dismissed a little early (around 3:30). We like to load them first before all other students exit the building. (If you have multiple students, including a kindergartner, we'd ask that you wait with the other cars so the kindergarten-only families can board and depart.
- All Other Parents should wait until 3:30 to enter the circle. As you've done in the past, please wait along the right side of our entrance drive (behind the entrance to the bus loop) until 3:30. At that time you can pull forward.
- Please pull all the way forward. Even if you see your child, please pull forward as far as you can to allow us to board as many students as possible at one time. This will help the line move most efficiently.
- If you do insist on parking in the parking lot (not recommended), please come across the crosswalk to pick up your child. Unattended students should not be crossing the road.
- Parents who are waiting for their child to exit the building should remain north of the crosswalk. This allows kids to see their cars and doesn't confuse parents with the staff members who are helping the kids safely get to their cars.
- Use the crosswalk exclusively. No one, staff, students, or parents, should be cutting between cars to get to the parking lot. This is essential!!!
Weather Alerts
For up-to-date information regarding Rockford Public Schools delays and/or closings, events and safety alerts, send a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our district’s short code number, 67587. Opt out any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop”. Be sure to tune in on icy or snowy mornings!
Extra Clothing
It is recommended that ALL students K-5 keep extra, weather appropriate, clothes in their locker (shirt, pants, underwear, socks, & shoes). Students may need to change due to bathroom accidents, spills in the cafeteria, or getting wet/dirty at recess. We no longer have a Care Closet at the building so having these clothes on hand is highly recommended.
Volunteer Consent Forms
As a reminder Volunteer Consent Forms expire each year in July. Please complete your application now! (This form must be on file to chaperone a field trip and/or volunteer at building events.)
Volunteer in our STEAM Classroom
Our STEAM teachers Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Brown, & Mrs. Pitsch love having parent volunteers in the STEAM room!
Meadow ridge Elementary PTO Updates
Thank You!
We are so thankful for all of your support this year & can’t wait to continue on in The New Year with many more exciting and fun endeavors! We hope you’ll join us at our GENERAL PTO MEETING, Thursday January 8th, 6pm, MDR Library.
Wishing you the happiest holidays and a wonderful winter break! From your Meadow Ridge PTO
Meet the Team!
- President: Lacey Jonassen
- Vice President, Fundraisers: Beth Zelski
- Vice President, Non-Fundraisers: Whitnie Snodgrass
- Treasurer: Samantha Huitema
- Secretary: Kristin Morrison
We are here for you!
PTO Meeting
- Thursday, January 8th: 6pm @ MDR Library
Thank you to our 2025-2026 Walk-a-thon Platinum Sponsors!
Upcoming events
- Friday, December 19th: Popcorn Friday
- Monday, December 22nd - Friday, January 2nd: No School - Winter Break
- Tuesday, January 6th: Kindergarten Outdoor Learning (AM lessons)
- Thursday, January 8th: 1st grade Outdoor Learning (AM lessons)
- Thursday, January 8th: PTO Meeting - 6pm @ MDR Library
- Friday, January 9th: Popcorn Friday
- Wednesday, January 14th: 5th Grade Battle of the Books - 1:10pm @ MDR Library
- Monday, January 19th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
- Friday, January 23rd: 5th Grade Field Trip - JA Biztown
- Friday, January 23rd: Popcorn Friday
School assistance program (SAP)
Access support today!
Say “I have an SAP with Rockford Public Schools” when you call 800.442.0809 and press “1.” Every RPS family member in your household is eligible. The Rockford Education Foundation (REF) has proudly partnered with Rockford Public Schools to provide expert counseling, therapy, and resources through Pine Rest’s School Assistance Program (SAP).
Cannonsburg Punch Cards
Cannonsburg’s Punch Cards offer discounted lift tickets so that K–12 students can enjoy winter activities to the fullest! To purchase, visit Cannonsburg’s website, click on the C-Flake icon for the type of punch card you want, and fill out your information — including your school sponsor and school name.
School Sponsor: Mia Trabucchi (Meadow Ridge Elementary)Punch cards also offer discounts on rentals and private lessons. Parents can even purchase a punch card for themselves when buying one for their child!
For questions, please email Mia Trabucchi at mtrabucchi@rockfordschools.org, or view the Parent Letter for more information.
destiny access
Go to the Destiny Discover website: https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/16270
1. Find and select your student’s school from the list.
2.Click Log In in the top right corner.
3.Enter your student’s login information:
Username: The student’s school username (this is their school email address without “@rockfordschools.org”)
Password: The student’s school ID number
4.Once logged in, you can view checked-out books, due dates, fines, etc.
Tip: If your student has trouble logging in, double-check that the “@rockfordschools.org” part of the email address was not included and that the student number is entered correctly.
