Trimester Transition
Time has seemingly flown by at Rockford Freshman Center this year. It's hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the first trimester. Student schedules will change for trimester two, which begins on Monday, November 16. These schedule changes may prompt some questions for our students and parents/guardians. This newsletter will address many of those topics but please reach out if you have a question or concern that isn't addressed here. Thank you!!
Student schedule
A student may view his/her schedule in PowerSchool beginning November 9.
Which Building?
Most classrooms are located at Rockford Freshman Center. Room numbers at RFC include FC before the room number (example: FC 201). Classrooms located at Rockford High School do not include FC before the room number (example: 201). If your schedule includes a class at Rockford High School, read the "Shuttle to RHS" section in the newsletter. Please ask a staff person if you have questions.
Which Floor?
At both RFC and RHS 10-12, classrooms that are "upstairs" begin with a 2 (ex: FC 201 or 201). All other classrooms are located on the main floor, regardless of building.
Lunch
Students who choose to get lunch at school must bring their Student ID to lunch. Out of respect for other classes in session, students are not permitted in academic halls during lunch and should bring all necessary materials (i.e. lunch, money, phone) to the lunchroom.
Lunches are assigned by 3rd period teacher. Teachers will help students with the timing and transitions. 9th grade students with classes at RHS 10-12 will eat lunch at RFC.
SHUTTLE TO RHS
Shuttles run between RFC and RHS 10-12 every hour to accommodate students who have classes in both buildings. Students who travel are dismissed three minutes early to provide additional time for travel.
Shuttles depart from our main entrance and deliver students to the main entrance of RHS 10-12. Students with 5th period at RHS 10-12 should take their belongings with them as there are no shuttles after school. These students will depart for the day from RHS 10-12.
Parent alert vaping
After several good years, our secondary school buildings have noticed an uptick in youth vaping this school year, so we want to bring this issue to the attention of parents and guardians. The term "vape" is commonly used to describe an electronic device that delivers a chemical substance for inhalation. In the early years, vapes were used mainly to dispense nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Individuals may also use vapes to deliver other substances including THC and CBD. It is very important to note that many vapes are purchased illegally and are, therefore, not FDA approved. Additionally, the minimum age to purchase a vape in the US is 21, so there is no device that is legal for our students to purchase, possess, or use.
The shape and look of vaping devices varies widely and seems to change often. We've included a few sample pictures for reference. There is a wealth of information available to parents. To learn more, please click the links to access additional information or conduct independent research. As a parent/guardian, there are several steps you can take to mitigate the risk to your child. Please consider any/all of the following:
- Have a conversation with your child about nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. Make sure you talk about your family's values, addiction, and health risks.
- Talk to your student about how to respond if offered or pressured to use any of these items.
- Be mindful of new habits such as going for long walks or going outside in the night.
- If you're concerned, look in backpacks, bags, phone messages, or bedrooms. Your child's safety is the most important thing.
If you're concerned about your student, please reach out to our counselors or administrators. We'll do our best to answer your questions and support your family. Thank you!
Trimester One Exams
RFC and RHS final exams for trimester one will occur November 12 and 13, 2026. Please review the attached exam schedule. Lunch is served on both dates. No parent phone call is required for students who have completed all exams during the scheduled periods at 11:21 on Friday, November 13, but these students will require transportation to do this as busses will arrive at the normal time, between 2:30-3:00 p.m.
Early Exam Option
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
RFC will offer an optional early exam session on Wednesday, November 11. There are two groups of students who may benefit from this option:
1. Students with rigorous exams in periods 1, 2, and 3 may wish to take one exam in advance, thereby limiting Thursday to only two exams.
2. Students with a planned absence on Friday (ex: band students) should complete 4th and/or 5th period exams early.
Parents, please check with your student about their unique situation prior to signing him/her up for an early exam session as students will know best which exams are planned for each class. After talking with your student, please click the button below to register. Please complete this form no later than November 9, 2026.
Daily Schedule M/W/F
| 1st Period | 7:40 am - 8:51 am |
| 2nd Period | 8:57 am - 10:08 am |
| 3rd Period plus Lunch | 10:14 am - 11:56 am |
| 4th Period | 12:02 pm - 1:13 pm |
| 5th Period | 1:19 pm - 2:30 pm |
Flex Schedule T/Th
| 1st Period | 7:40 am - 8:44 am |
| 2nd Period | 8:50 am - 9:54 am |
| 3rd Period plus Lunch | 10:00 am - 11:34 am |
| Flex Time | 11:40 am - 12:10 pm |
| 4th Period | 12:16 pm - 1:20 pm |
| 5th Period | 1:26 pm - 2:30 pm |
Early Release Schedule
Early Release Days are: 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 12/9, 2/3, 2/24, 3/24, 4/21, 5/5
| 1st Period | 7:40 am - 8:28 am |
| 2nd Period | 8:34 am - 9:21 am |
| 3rd Period | 9:27 am - 10:14 am |
| 4th Period plus Lunch | 10:20 am - 11:37 am |
| 5th Period | 11:43 am- 12:30 pm |
Counseling Newsletter
RFC Counseling October Newsletter
In an effort to continue building a strong, supportive school community, RFC will be sending out a monthly school counseling newsletter that brings you important updates, helpful resources, and insights to empower our students’ academic and emotional growth.
Counseling Dog Joins RFC! Ruffles, a golden retriever/labrador retriever mix, joined our counseling office at the end of October. Her purpose is to support students with emotional regulation, and reduce barriers to seeking help. Ms. Legge will be her handler at school. Please reach out if you have any concerns or would like to report a student’s allergy.
Career Exploration:All freshmen enrolled in World Studies A/AP World History A took part in a career exploration session during the first trimester. This session gave them a brief introduction to possible career paths after high school. Ask your 9th grader which career they found most interesting, what the entry-level salary is for that job in Michigan, and what type of education or degree it requires. Want to dive deeper? Have your student log in to their Xello account through Hello ID to show you their results!
1st Trimester Exams: Your freshman’s first trimester final exams will be November 12 and 13. Students should begin preparing at least a week (if not two!) prior, breaking up studying into small chunks each night. Please encourage your students to prioritize sleep and eat a good breakfast the morning of exams (and everyday!).
What are your school counselors reading?
Anxious Generation-You’ve heard how social media is impacting the mental health of our kids, but how did we get here? What can we do now?
Want to connect with your teen? Try asking one of these questions the next time you’re in the car, at the dinner table or on a walk!
- What did you learn during the Xello counseling lesson this fall? (If your student participated in World Studies or AP World)
- If you could spend a day shadowing anyone at work, who would it be?
- What is one career you would like to know more about, even if you don't think it's something you'd actually pursue?
- Are you interested in getting involved in something outside of school this year? Clubs and sports are up and rolling. If these don’t interest you, what about volunteering or a part time job?
RFC Counselors:
Jen Lutz (Last names A-K), jlutz@rockfordschools.org
Riley Legge (Last names L-Z), rlegge@rockfordschools.org
lockers and locks
All students are assigned a locker with combination lock to ensure that they have a safe place to leave belongings and also, that no one else could leave an elicit item in another student's locker. Several students are leaving their locker ajar this year, meaning their locker is not secure.
Students taking PE are issued a lock. Sadly, many students do not use the provided lock, and instead, leave their belongings out in the locker room. Our students assume the best from others, which is wonderful, but items taken from a locker room are very difficult to recover.
Please encourage your student to secure belongings in hallway lockers and PE/athletic locker rooms. Thank you so much!
Parent Advisory Council
Rockford Freshman Center and Rockford High School welcome parents to attend and participate in Parent Advisory Council. PAC meetings are held several times each year and provide an opportunity for parents/guardians to receive updates about high school activities. Meetings are held virtually in Google Meet and are recorded for those who cannot attend on scheduled date(s) and/or time. Please plan to join us for our next meeting on January 12 at 9:00 a.m. The link for the Google Meet will be provided in advance. Thanks!
Reporting Attendance
Consistent daily attendance is so important in high school. Consider the following way to help your student:
- Schedule vacations/trips during planned school breaks.
- Secure after-school appointments when possible.
- Encourage a solid bedtime routine. Limiting/prohibiting use of electronics at bedtime is helpful.
RFC and RHS require a parent/guardian phone call for absence reporting. Please do not send your student with a note. This process helps staff verify the authenticity of the report. Please call 616-863-6352 to report an absence, late arrival or early departure.
High school students in grades 9-12 may sign themselves in and out once a parent has called. Parents/guardians are not required to enter the building to sign the student out. This is also different than the process used in RPS middle schools.
Dates to Save
November 11 Early Dismissal for Students
November 12 and 13 Final Exams Trimester One
November 16 Start of Trimester Two
November 25-27 No School
December 9 Early Dismissal for Students
December 21- January 1 No School
