Amie Santillán- Principal
asantillan@rockfordschools.org
Justin Eckert - Principal Administrative Assistant
jeckert@rockfordschools.org
Jenny Bradley - Administrative Assistant
jbradley@rockfordschools.org
Address: 3900 Kroes NE, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6374
Fax: (616) 866-7132
Character Trait of the Month: KINDNESS
Each month, we focus on a character trait. This month’s focus is KINDNESS — being friendly, generous, and considerate. At the end of the month, one student from each class will be recognized for showing kindness.
Their names will be posted on our school bulletin board and featured in this newsletter!
Volunteer Opportunities
At Roguewood, we believe our school is strongest when families and staff work together. We are excited to welcome families into the building and invite you to be a part of our school community. Whether you can lend a hand in the cafeteria, at recess, helping with PTO sponsored events or in the classroom helping your teacher, your presence makes a meaningful difference for our students.
Please consider volunteering in the following areas:
Tuesdays & Thursdays
- Lunchroom - Sign up here ■ 11:20am - 12:50pm
- Lunch Recess - Sign up here ■ 11:50am - 1:00pm
- Afternoon Recess - Sign up here ■ 1:50pm - 3:25pm
Kindergarten Dental Screening
Tuesday, October 14th 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.
What is the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program (KOHA)? FAQ
Michigan requires the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) [Public Act 316 of 2023] to help improve school readiness and raise awareness on the importance of good oral health. Similar to hearing and vision screenings, the oral health assessment takes no longer than 5 minutes to look for signs of tooth decay or infection by a licensed dental professional at no cost to you.
If you would prefer your child is screened by your dentist please bring this Oral Heath Assessment to your dentist office to have them complete
Extra Clothes For our Care Closet
We are in need of pants and shorts with elastic waistbands for our care closet - for both girls and boys - all sizes needed. We are also in need of new underwear in size 4/5 for boys.
Standard Response Protocol that we will be using now.
HB 4096, the Revised School Safety Code, has been introduced to provide common language for schools during emergencies. Here is an overview of the FIVE actions schools may take when addressing emergencies.
LOCKDOWN - The term "lockdown" should be used when there is an existing threat in or at a school building or a threat is expected to arrive in or at a school building imminently. Secure in a room, confirm the door is locked, and move to a place of cover away from the door and any windows.
SECURE MODE - Determined when a LOCKDOWN, as described, is not necessary, but heightened security and awareness are needed due to a potential EXTERNAL threat. Instruction continues in a normal manner, but access to the school building and movement within the building is highly restricted.
SHELTER - This is used when it is safer to be inside the building than outside. Common situations where this is used would be severe weather approaching or some type of hazardous materials incident in proximity to the school.
EVACUATION - Deals with the need to evacuate the building as it is no longer deemed safe to occupy for any variety of reasons, like fire, chemical spill, gas leak, etc.
HOLD - Hold is utilized when there is a need to have students and staff remain in their classrooms as staff address a concern or issue (medical, student in crisis) in a hallway or common area. Students are released when the office announces all clear.
For more information about our SRP resource, please visit the https://iloveuguys.org/ website.
Hand2hand
Breakfast and Lunch Information
The state budget that funds Michigan Meals is not yet finalized. We are hopeful that we will know the funding status of this program by October 1st.
RPS will be providing free breakfast and lunch through September 30th, but there is uncertainty about whether free meals will continue after this date.
Unified Arts (Specials)
STEAM Night Volunteer Sign Up
Your support makes both our classroom learning and STEAM Night possible—we look forward to working together to create amazing experiences for our students and families!
Mrs. Anderson
Music
Save the Date for our RGW Music Concerts! All 2nd-5th Grade students will have a Winter Music Concert this year and K-1st Grade students will perform in the Spring!
4th grade recorders
It's time for Recorders.
It’s time for Recorders!
Hello 4th Grade Families!
Similar to past years, all 4th grade students at Roguewood will play soprano recorders as a part of our music curriculum - which helps us to practice our composition, improvisation, and ensemble skills on a wind instrument as well as form new skills such as reading and writing on a musical staff! We will order them this fall and begin our recorder unit in January after our December Winter Concerts for all RGW 2nd-5th Graders this year!
Please plan to purchase an instrument unless you already have a recorder at home. I will be placing a bulk order through the school, so I will need all order forms and payment by Wednesday, October 1. This year we are ordering the MIE205 Renaissance Soprano Recorder in Ivory. The cost of a recorder is $6, and includes a heavy duty zipper case, cleaning rod, and fingering chart. Please return the form below with your payment to your classroom teacher who will submit it to Mrs. Rito. If the recorder cost causes financial hardship, your student may borrow a sanitized recorder for the duration of our recorder unit.
Students will be asked to take their recorders home to practice once we have established our playing expectations in the classroom. This is a wonderful opportunity for your student to model responsibility as they are expected to bring their recorder with them for each music class throughout our unit.
If your student already has a school-purchased recorder (i.e. passed down from a sibling), he or she may use it this year instead of purchasing a new instrument. Please still return the form and check the “recorder from home” option. I will let your student know when they should begin bringing their instrument to school.
I am looking forward to creating wonderful music with our 4th grade musicians this year! Erika Rito erito@rockfordschools.org
Please return the bottom portion of this order form to your classroom teacher by Wednesday, October 1.
Library
The library is looking for book-loving parent volunteers who are interested in helping shelve books in the mornings! Preferred hours: M-F, 8:15am-9:00am (you can volunteer for one morning or multiple days - whatever works best for you!)
If you are interested and available, but cannot come in during the time listed above, feel free to reach out to me with your availability!
Please reach out to Jen Libiran at jlibiran@rockfordschools.org.
Activity Pass Information
Activity pass forms due Friday, September 26th. If your student could benefit from financial assistance, consider utilizing the partial payment option or contact Mrs. Bradley and/or Mrs. Eckert in the office for sponsorship information.
Forms and payments can be completed through this link : https://www.cognitoforms.com/RoguewoodPTORPS/ActivityPassPopcorn
Activity Pass
pto AND sPANISH iMMERSION bOOSTERS nEWS/UPDATES
2025-26 PTO Board
Introducing Roguewood's PTO Board for the 2025-2026 school year.
President- Justin Rito
Vice President- Lee Ann Brunetz
Secretary- Christina DeYonker
Treasurer- Megan Stelzer
Events Coordinator- Liz Gear
Volunteer Coordinator- Rachael Considine
Roguewood PTO
To facilitate relations between educators and 
parents to accomplish the same goals of expanding the educational, charitable, literary, scientific and familial needs of both educator and parents.
Join us at Fall Fest on Friday, September 26th.
Enjoy inflatable activities, yard games, face painting and more! RGW PTO will be selling hot dogs, snacks, and drinks as well as cider and donuts for dessert! We want to send our sincere THANK YOUs to all of our wonderful sponsors: Dill Daddy Pickles, King Water Wells, Fido & Stitch, Family Farm and Home – Plainfield, Farm Bureau- Justin Goushaw Agency, Uccello Properties, LLC, Michigan Lakeside Rentals, and the Rademacher Family.
Activity pass forms due Friday, September 26th.
If your student could benefit from financial assistance, consider utilizing the partial payment option or contact Mrs. Bradley and/or Mrs. Eckert in the office for sponsorship information.
Forms and payments can be completed through this link : https://www.cognitoforms.com/RoguewoodPTORPS/ActivityPassPopcorn
Popcorn Fridays will be starting soon!
Payment can be made with the activity pass form. If you have already submitted your form but would like to add on a popcorn pass, please contact us at RoguewoodPTO@gmail.com so we can assist you. Want to help make popcorn days a success? Sign up here to be a popper! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080545A4AC2BABFE3-popcorn1#/
Warm fuzzies are back for the 2025-2026 year!
This is an opportunity for families to shower Roguewood teachers and staff. This is not funded by the PTO, but rather a gift from families who choose to participate. Ideas that have been done in the past include charcuterie tray, hot cocoa bar, stock the fridge, catered lunch, etc. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080545A4AC2BABFE3-58430285-warm
PTO general membership meeting – Tuesday, October 7th at 7 PM.
Join us for our first meeting of the year. We will be discussing the yearly budget, upcoming events, and getting updates from our principal and staff.
The proposed agenda is attached for your review; a finalized agenda will be posted to our website 5 days prior to the scheduled meeting.
Per the current bylaws, all requests for additional agenda items, submission of reports or other materials, and motions to be voted on must be received 7 working days before the scheduled meeting.
Requests can be submitted via email to RoguewoodPTO@gmail.com
RGWPTO Bylaws are available to review on our website at www.RoguewoodPTO.weebly.com
We look forward to seeing you there!
-Roguewood PTO Board of Trustees
Feel free to reach out to any board member with questions or concerns. You can contact us via email, facebook, or through our website.
Email: RoguewoodPTO@gmail.com
Website: www.RoguewoodPTO.weebly.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16y7dU7Gdc/
2025-2026 SI Boosters Board
Introducing our Rockford Spanish Immersion Board for the 2025-2026 school year.
President - Jessie Salo
Vice President - Kendra Brubaker
Secretary - Nicole Villegas
Treasurer - Matt Benander
Secondary Ed. Liason - Amy Sullivan
Spanish Immersion (SI) Boosters
What is the Spanish Immersion (SI) Booster Club?
The SI Booster Club is a group of parent volunteers who raise funds to support the RPS K-12 Spanish Immersion program. Staff submit requests and funds are disbursed throughout the year to support the Spanish Immersion program from kindergarten through high school.
What do we fund?
Spanish Immersion K-12 classrooms at Roguewood Elementary School, North Rockford Middle School, Rockford Freshman Center, and Rockford High School.
Rockford SI Boosters Email: rockfordsiboosters@gmail.com
save the date - euchre night
Euchre Night
Saturday, October 25 at 5pm
Registration opening soon!
Calling all Watch D.o.g.s.
Purpose of Watch D.O.G.S.
- To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
- To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
Mondays & Fridays
- 11:00am - 1:00pm - Recess
- 1:00pm - 1:40pm - Personal Lunch
- 1:40pm - 3:30pm - PM Recess and Dismissal
Reminders
OFFICE REMINDERS
Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6374 or emailed to the front office - jbradley@rockfordschools.org
Please leave a message on our general voicemail box if you are calling after hours. Whether you are reporting an absence on our voicemail or email, the State of Michigan requires us to know the following:
Student's name and teacher
Reason for absence - if it is an illness we need to know the symptoms of the illness - vomiting, coughing, fever, cold, diarrhea, lice - whatever the reason may be
Do You Need to Drop Something Off?
If you have an item that needs to get to a student, simply drop it off on our bookcase in our vestibule and provide the student’s name and classroom on a Post-It note. We will make sure it gets where it needs to go.
Transportation and busing
My Ride K-12 App
NO CELLPHONES OR SMART WATCHES
- Students with a cellphone may not use them during the school day, and they should be stored in the child’s backpack at all times.
- Please do not text or call your student on their device during the school day. Communication should go through the office.
- Students with smartwatches should have their device set to school mode, which disables distracting smartwatch features—like calls, messages, and games—while keeping essential safety tools active.
- Students should not be wearing earbuds or other noise-canceling headphones unless it is a documented accommodation.
Thank you for your help with this!
LABEL EVERYTHING - SEND IN EXTRA CLOTHES
To avoid your student’s clothing from going into the lost and found PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING!!! Label all coats, boots, mittens, hats, etc. Labeling items will ensure they will back it back home!
ALL students should have a change of clothes in their lockers. Our Care Closet only has a few outfits for students to borrow and bring back. We tend to run out as the year goes on.
School 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!
Community News or Events
Assistance Program (SAP)
Say “I have an SAP with Rockford Public Schools” when you call 800.442.0809 and press “1.” Every RPS student, staff and family member in your household is eligible for up to three free sessions. Additional SAP benefits include: free elder care consultation, legal and financial consultation, infant-feeding advice and real estate consultation. Anyone in the household can utilize these resources and it is 100% confidential. Access an online library with over 20,000 resources covering health, finances, legal topics and more. The code to login the library is RockfordPS.
Login Code: RockfordPS
At Tapestry Rockford, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and succeed. We are driven by the belief that even the smallest act of kindness can create a ripple of positive change. With a passionate commitment to making the world a better place, we have established a platform where individuals from all walks of life can come together to make a difference. All of the children within our community deserve to experience a sense of self-worth and have their fundamental needs fulfilled. Our goal, with the help of generous donations, is to provide these items at no cost to those in need.
Tapestry provides cost free clothing & other basic needs to children in the Rockford, Sparta, Cedar Springs, Greenville & surrounding school districts in northern Kent County. Tapestry Rockford is a Michigan nonprofit approved for IRC Sec.501(c)(3) tax exemption.
If your family would like to shop at Tapestry please give them a call at 616.326.1016 to set up a private appointment to shop.
