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
Student Verification
Please complete by October 31st
All verification and acknowledgment will take place in FAMILY ACCESS. 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.
Fall Conferences
We are looking forward to conferences on Monday, November 3rd and Thursday, November 6th. 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 29th
- November 12th
Halloween Parade
An all-school Halloween parade will be held on the playground at 1:45pm on Halloween! All parents are invited!
The parade will start promptly at 1:45pm so please arrive a few minutes beforehand and go directly to the playground. Students will exit the building by the gross motor room and follow the sidewalk back into the building by the gym. Parents should line the sidewalk; cones will be placed along the path to help direct.
Book Fair Details
Volunteer to help Mrs. Bowen with book fair!
Book Fair Hours
- Nov. 3 (Mon.) During Class for students & 4:30-7:30 for families
- Nov. 4 (Tues.) During Class for students and 3:30-4:00 for families
- Nov. 5 (Wed.) During Class for students and 3:30-4:00 for families
- Nov. 6 (Thur.) During Class for students and 4:00-6:00 for families
- Nov. 7 (Fri.) 8:00-9:00 a.m. for students/families
Cash, checks, credit cards & eWallet accepted
Make checks out to: Rockford Public Schools
E-Wallet is available. Set up an account and have funds immediately available for your child to shop the Book Fair. Book Fair eWallet is a safe and convenient digital payment option for your student to shop the Fair cash-free.
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.
Upcoming field trips
3rd Grade Outdoor Learning
- Petsch: Monday, October 27th (AM)
- Scheidel: Monday, October 27th (PM)
Study Hall Podcast
School News Network interviewed our Resource Room teacher, Meredith Dompierre, and 2nd grade teacher, Claire Wittenbach, on classroom inclusion for their podcast "Study Hall". Listen to the episode "Helping Ellie Learn" using the link below!
STEAM Night
Save the Date!
Our STEAM Night is coming up on Tuesday, November 11th! Families are invited to experience hands-on activities, see student projects, and celebrate creativity in action.
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.
Hopper's happenings
I modeled expectations for morning meeting in Miss Mikayla's room! I showed all my friends how to have a safe body, follow directions, and stay kind!
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
office Reminders
Extra Clothing
As the weather cools down it's time to swap students extra clothing from t-shirts & shorts to long sleeves and pants.
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.
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!!!
Kindergarten Dental Screening - Rescheduled
Tuesday, October 28th 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.
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!
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 Wrap-Up
We want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our Meadow Ridge Families for your unprecedented support for our 2025 Walk-AThon! The way MDR families, friends, MDR family owned businesses, community sponsors, teachers & staff and RPS peers showed up, is unmatched! Beyond the fundraising, the day itself was filled with excitement, fun and great connection. Thank you all for your part in every piece of the puzzle.
We are looking forward to all the things we will be able to do for the students and the building, with the amount of funds that were raised! We will share ideas, beyond what the PTO has traditionally covered, shortly after the next General Meeting (11/13). We truly value your partnership in making Meadow Ridge such a wonderful place to be!
Gratefully,
Your Meadow Ridge PTO
We have a handful of Meadow Ridge Monarch shirts left! (Limited sizes!) If you’d like to check for a size and purchase, please email MDRMonarchs@gmail.com
Since the whole school hit the Walk-AThon Stretch Goal, the students will be celebrating on Friday, November 7th, with a Glow Party Lunch, put on by the PTO! (This will be their normal lunch choices with a small treat & a glow party atmosphere) We encourage the students to wear their Walk-AThon shirts that day for a fun experience! A few volunteers are needed to help with this.
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!
Mileage Club
Mileage Club will be wrapping up on Monday, Oct 27th. It will resume again in the spring, after Spring Break! Your students will get to take home all of their toe tokens at the end of the school year! Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with this!
Thank you to our 2024-2025 Walk-a-thon Platinum Sponsors!
Upcoming events
- Friday, October 24: Popcorn Friday
- Friday, October 24th: Ram Out Pediatric Cancer Football Game
- Monday, October 27th: 3rd Grade Outdoor Learning Field Trip (Petsch & Scheidel)
- Tuesday, October 28th: Kindergarten Dental Screening
- Wednesday, October 29th: Early Release Day - 1:30pm Dismissal
- Friday, October 31st: All-School Halloween Parade - 1:45pm on the playground
- Sunday, November 2nd: Daylight Savings Time Ends
- Monday, November 3rd: Fall Conferences 4:00-8:00pm
- Tuesday, November 4th: Election Day
- Tuesday, November 4th: Picture Retake Day
- Thursday, November 6th: Fall Conferences 4:00-8:00pm
- Friday, November 7th: 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).
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.
