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
October Character Trait: respect
Definition: showing others that they are valued for who they are
Challenge: point out a strength in a friend or staff member
Reflection: look for the good in others and treat them as though that's all you see
September Students of the Month
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Kindergarten - Hannah Huitema
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1st Grade - Willow Klomp
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2nd Grade - Ada Jonassen
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3rd Grade - Alaia Anderson
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4th Grade - Blaire Ritzema
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5th Grade - Kennedy Rogers
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Fall Conferences
We are looking forward to conferences on Monday, November 3rd and Thursday, November 7th. To streamline scheduling, all conferences will be in-person.
Follow the below steps for scheduling your conferences!
You can book conferences with your child's teacher using the Fall Conference Booking link below:
You can also scan this QR Code:
After filling out your information, you will be able to identify teachers by the grade they teach in the dropdown menu as well as special teachers and ancillary staff. When you choose a grade, you will be able to choose your child’s teacher and a time that works for you. You can go through this process for each of your children. We suggest that if you have multiple children, please put a gap of time between the meetings. You will then get an email confirmation with your time.
Please note that we will not have child care available on either date.
Early Release Days
Please mark your calendars for the early release days - 1:30pm dismissal time.
- October 15th & 29th
Upcoming field trips
- Monday, October 20th: 5th grade - Charlton Park
3rd Grade Outdoor Learning
- Clements: Friday, October 24th (PM)
- Petsch: Monday, October 27th (AM)
- Scheidel: Monday, October 27th (PM)
Picture & yearbook Orders
Picture day orders can still be placed online using the Portrait ID that was sent home with students.
Picture retakes will be Tuesday, November 4th!
Yearbook orders can also be placed online using the ID Code: 14558526. Reminder that yearbook orders are separate from picture day order packages.
Book Fair Volunteers
Volunteer to help Mrs. Bowen with book fair!
WAT spirit week
Our student council is celebrating Walk-a-thon with a spirit week!
- Monday, October 13th - Sports Team Day
- Tuesday, October 14th - Crazy Hair Day
- Wednesday, October 15th - Crayon Day (dress from head to toe in your favorite crayon color)
- Thursday, October 16th - Pajama Day
- Friday, October 17th - Walk-a-thon Shirts **students will receive these at school on Friday
Halloween Parade
An all-school Halloween parade will be held on the playground at 1:45pm on Halloween! All parents are invited!
Hopper's happenings
I spent this week presenting PBIS assemblies to all our students reminding them of good playground, hallway, and lunchroom behavior!
Holiday Support program
Dear Meadow Ridge Family,
There are those times in life when knowing people are thinking about you just makes things a little easier. Your Meadow Ridge families would really like to share some love and resources with your family this holiday season.
Please consider filling out the form below and return to school by 10/31/25 if your family would like or need support. All information will be kept strictly confidential. Our school social worker will collect all request forms (names will be redacted/removed) and share those requests with our families/community businesses who would like to help/sponsor. Families receiving donations will need to send a family member to pickup the donations by Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Please contact Kendra Weidenfeller, school social worker, at KWeidenfeller@rockfordschools.org if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Kendra Weidenfeller
Holiday Sponsor Opportunity
Family Adoption Program
This holiday season, our school is organizing our annual Holiday Family Adoption opportunity to help provide support and joy to families in need within our community. We are currently looking for sponsors who would be willing to “adopt” a family by helping with gifts, clothing, or other holiday needs.
If you, your family, or your organization would like to participate, please contact Kendra Weidenfeller by email at Kweidenfeller@rockfordschools.org for more information.
Together, we can make the holidays brighter for our students and their families.
STEAM Update
Mark your calendars! Our annual STEAM Night is coming up on Tuesday, November 11th from 5:30–7:30 PM at East Rockford Middle School. Please note the important updates: the date has changed from November 4th to November 11th (due to voting day), and the location has moved from the Freshman Center to East Rockford Middle School. More details can be found on the attached flyer.
We are also looking for parent volunteers in the STEAM room during the month of October. Volunteers will help with student activities and prepping for classroom projects and STEAM Night. If you are interested, please sign up here: October Volunteer Sign Up.
In addition, our STEAM program is still collecting recyclable materials to support student projects. We are currently accepting cardboard tubes, egg cartons, plastic containers, cereal boxes, plastic water bottles, and corks. A flyer with more details is attached.
Thank you for supporting our students as they explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math!
Elyse Anderson, Sara Brown, & Chris Pitsch
office Reminders
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!
Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures
Drop-Off
Student drop off starts at 8:25 am. (Please DO NOT drop off students early to wait outside the building.)
Our drop off zone is right in front of the building along the circle drive.
For the safety of our kids, please do not drop students off outside of this area as we have staff in specific spots to help with car doors.
If you want to walk your student to the building, please park your vehicle in one of the parking spots in the second or third level in our parking lot and walk them to the building.
Pick-Up
If you are using our car line for pickup and are the first car, please pull up the drive, through the loop and down the sidewalk stopping at the yellow cone, leaving room at the end for ASD pick-up.
If you are parking and walking up to the building to pick up your student, please park in one of the spots in our parking lot.
Kindergarten Dental Screening
Monday, October 13th our kindergarten students will participate in dental screening which is now required for all kindergarteners. The screening is non-invasive and is just a visual inspection by a trained professional. No poking or prodding.
If you would prefer your child is screened by your dentist please contact either the Meadow Ridge's office or the RPS nursing department for the assessment form your dentist will need to complete.
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
Walk-AThon Updates
Volunteers Needed!
Walk-AThon Volunteers needed for stations along the walk!
*please remember this means you would not be walking with your student(s) but you’d see them along the route!
If you ordered a WAT shirt to match your monarch they have arrived early and will be sent home in your child's backpack!
We’d like to express a BIG THANK YOU for all of your support leading up to this point in the school year! Let’s finish out this fundraiser strong! We look forward to all the things it will be able to provide to these wonderful MDR students & community, this year!!
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!
Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper
The Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper will be at the school for Walk-AThon!!! WHAT A TREAT! Parents, you’ll be able to order a coffee after drop off and have it to enjoy for the walk, if you’re staying and for any families that aren’t staying, that’s a great day to still grab a coffee, to go, from our very own Meadow Ridge Mom owned business! (Trust us, you’ll love it!)
Lazy Dazy is also donating 10% of all sales that morning to the MDR Walk-AThon, so let’s fuel up for a great day!!! (Cash or Card!)
Field Trip Fun!
Field trips are in full swing now! Follow our Facebook page to see pictures and fun updates on those happenings.
Thank you to our 2024-2025 Walk-a-thon Platinum Sponsors!
Upcoming events
- Friday, October 10th: PTO Popcorn Friday
- Monday, October 13th: Kindergarten Dental Screening
- Wednesday, October 15th: Early Release Day - 1:30pm Dismissal
- Friday, October 17th: Walk-a-thon! MDR Playground - 9:30am
- Monday, October 20th: 5th Grade Field Trip - Charlton Park
- Thursday, October 23rd: REF Stock the Shelves @ Epilogue Books - 6:00-8:00pm
- Friday, October 24th: Ram Out Pediatric Cancer Football Game
- Wednesday, October 29th: Early Release Day - 1:30pm Dismissal
- Friday, October 31st: All-School Halloween Parade - 1:45pm on the playground
Let’s Stock the Shelves!
The Rockford Education Foundation has partnered with local businesses in Rockford to host Stock the Shelves, a literacy event to support our schools! REF invites you to browse books at Epilogue, enjoy snacks from Thought Design, drinks from Quickwater Coffee, and help fund new books for Rockford schools libraries. Make a local impact and community connections - one book at a time. There is no ticket admission to this event. Light appetizers will be served and beverages are available for purchase.
This event will take place Thursday, October 23rd from 6-8pm, open house style, at Epilogue Books.
Can't make it in person? Donate online to help Stock the Shelves bring more books – and opportunities – to Rockford students!
Costume cookie run
See the Costume Cookie Run Flyer attached for details about the upcoming Halloween Cookie Run and Trunk or Treat events sponsored by Team Orphans.
Ram out pediatric cancer
Please read the Anni's Army Foundation letter for more information about Anni's Army and the Ram Out Pediatric Cancer football game & shirt sales.
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).
Student Verification
All verification and acknowledgment will take place in FAMILY ACCESS starting August 7th. You can find a link to RPS Family Access on our district website. The process is similar to last year; however, the materials have been updated to support student learning for the 2025-2026 school year.
The steps for completing the verification process for your child are as follows:
- Log into Family Access.
- Click on the "Go to Information Verification for your son/daughter."
- Please complete the steps in order, as listed on the right-hand side of your screen. (Note that fields in grey can only be edited at the school building with proper documentation.) Please select the appropriate drop-down items for each screen. Each step requires you to select "I have completed this step" at the bottom of the screen to finalize your information.
- When completing the School Participation step, click on the link called "School Participation", click "yes" on the pop-up window to complete this step. Enter the proper information and click "Save" in the upper right-hand corner.
- Once all steps have been completed, the final step allows you to submit the information. (THIS IS KEY TO FINALIZING VERIFICATION.) Once finalized, you will receive an email verification of enrollment. If you do not receive an email, please go back into FAMILY ACCESS to review any missing steps/information.
Note: We highly encourage all families to set up a FA account as it is the district’s main source of communication to parents. Please visit our website at www.rockfordschools.org & click on the Family Access link (upper right-hand side) or please feel free to contact the main office of student’s school for additional assistance.
