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
September Character Trait: kindness
Definition: the quality of being friendly, generous or considerate
Challenge: let someone go in front of you in line
Reflection: you will never regret being kind
School Meals
The state budget that funds Michigan Meals (Free Breakfast and Lunch for all students) is not yet finalized. Rockford Public Schools has decided that locally, Michigan Meals will continue through September 30, 2025. There is uncertainty in whether free meals will continue past this date.
Students who do not qualify for free or reduced meals could be charged for breakfast and lunch starting October 1, 2025, if the state budget is not approved.
Families are encouraged to fill out the education and meal benefits application on the RPS website.
W.I.N. Time
On Monday, Meadow Ridge is launching W.I.N. Time for our K-5 students. W.I.N. is an hourlong intervention and extension block of time that stands for 'What I Need'. During this time, students will have their RtI and/or Title I Math interventions without missing any new content. Teachers will also collaborate to form small groups for intervention work on grade level skills. Meanwhile, other students will receive differentiated extensions to work independently or collaboratively as we challenge every child with specific instruction suited to their unique skills and abilities. Twice a week, W.I.N. Time will prioritize Literacy instruction and two times a week, the focus will be on math. The fifth day is set aside for Social/Emotional instruction.
It's possible that your child may visit one of the other two grade level classrooms during W.I.N. as we group students with similar needs. This is not a unique program to Meadow Ridge. All 8 RPS elementaries are running a similar intervention and extension program this year as together we strive to give each child What They Need!
Early Release Days
Please mark your calendars for the early release days - 1:30pm dismissal time.
- October 15th & 29th
Upcoming field trips
- Thursday, October 9th: Kindergarten (Andrus & Beier) - Schwallier's Country Basket
- Friday, October 10th: Kindergarten (Molesta) - Schwallier's Country Basket
- Monday, October 20th: 5th grade - Charlton Park
Picture Day Orders
Picture day orders can still be placed online at mylifetouch.com using the MDR Picture Day ID: EVTJMQHJG.
Picture retakes will be Tuesday, November 4th!
Book bus book returns
Thank you to the Rockford Community for visiting the Rockford Book Bus this summer. We had 3,979 visitors during our seven weeks of travel around Rockford. Additionally, we had 402 visitors at Reading Rocks. With those numbers in mind, we had 13,143 books in circulation this summer…WOW! We appreciate the role our community plays in fostering a love of literacy with our young people. What a gift!
Book Bus Return Bins have been in school vestibules since the start of the school year. We will be picking up returns in the next two weeks from those locations and will be removing bins from vestibules at the end of September. Please be reminded that there are three ways to return a Book Bus book:
- Return directly to the Book Bus (summer only)
- Return to an RPS elementary school (Aug/Sept only)
- Return to the Book Bus Drop Bin at the Admin Building (350 N Main), located near the Community Services Door (year-round)
We are currently only accepting donations of current, high-interest books in great condition. Thank you for your understanding and see you next summer on the Rockford Book Bus!
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.
Hopper's happenings
I helped our 3rd-5th grade ASD class with focusing on paying attention, sitting quietly & calmly, and making comments/asking questions about books that were read to them by their peers!
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
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.
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
What an awesome registration turnout! We love seeing so many Monarchs in their lanyards! We’ve got a couple more that are due to students so it’s not too late to register; you can register as a family! You can create a family page so that you’re sharing ONE link and can send it to everyone! They can also make ONE donation and split it between your students! START SHARING! Now is the time to start sharing your link…. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to support your students! Add their picture to their FundHub webpage, it’s great to see their faces on their and their donors can leave encouraging messages of support for your students! Every bit counts….The more shares, the more support!
We’ll be sharing more info about the day of Walk-AThon, soon! We hope you can join us, so mark your calendars for Friday, October 17th, 9am-11am! Families are welcome to join the fun!
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!
POPCORN FRIDAY, 9/26!
Popcorn goes home in all student’s backpacks on popcorn Fridays! There are still volunteer spots open for popping popcorn throughout the year.
Thank you to our 2024-2025 Walk-a-thon Platinum Sponsors!
Upcoming events
- Friday, September 26th: PTO Popcorn Friday
- Wednesday, October 1st: Count Day
- Monday, October 6th & Tuesday, October 7th: Hearing & Vision Rescreening
- Thursday, October 9th: Kindergarten Field Trip (Andrus & Beier) - Schwallier's
- Friday, October 10th: Kindergarten Field Trip (Molesta) - Schwallier's
- 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!
- Monday, October 20th: 5th Grade Field Trip - Charlton Park
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!
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.
