Roguewood's Newsletter August 28

News from Sra. Santillán

A Great Start to the Year!

What a wonderful first week with our Rams! Our students have done an amazing job settling into the new school year. Throughout the building, teachers and staff have been intentionally focusing on community, connection, classroom routines, schoolwide procedures, and expectations.

There is something pretty special about seeing our hallways and classrooms filled with kids again. We have an incredible group of students, and I could not be more proud to be part of the Roguewood community.

Thank you for partnering with us as we get the year underway!

Classroom Parties

We’re excited to announce more participation at our classroom parties! These are special opportunities for our students, teachers, and families to celebrate together.Our classroom parties are scheduled for:

• October 30 – Halloween
• December 17 – Holiday
• February 11 – Valentine’s Day

Over the next couple of weeks, your teacher will send information to families about how you can sign up to participate in one of the three parties. We’ll be able to have a maximum of five parents/guardians per classroom for each party.To give as many families as possible the opportunity to participate, each family may sign up for one party per child during the school year. This will help ensure that we can have a variety of parents and guardians represented at our celebrations.We’re really excited to welcome families back into the building and bring this tradition back for our students, parents, and staff! Parent volunteers will help with planning, organizing, and running the parties, which will also help take some of the load off our classroom teachers. More information and sign-up details will be coming your way in the next couple of weeks. We are so excited to see more families in the building.

Safety & Security: Learning and Practicing Together

Keeping our students safe is always one of our highest priorities. Over the next several months, our students and staff will be learning and practicing the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation.

The SRP gives schools, students, families, and first responders clear, common language for responding to different situations. We will teach these procedures in a calm, developmentally appropriate way so that our students understand that practicing safety procedures is simply another way we take care of one another at school.

Our focus for the next three months will be:

September — LOCKDOWN
“Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”

October — HOLD & SECURE
Hold: “In Your Room or Area”
Secure: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors.”

November — SHELTER and/or EVACUATE
Students will learn what to do when we need to shelter for a specific hazard or safely move to another location.

Please read this letter linked below from our Executive Director of School Safety.

The “I Love U Guys” Foundation — Standard Response Protocol

Our goal is not to create fear. Our goal is to build confidence, predictability, and preparedness so our students know that the adults around them have a plan and will help keep them safe.

Thank You for Your Patience With PowerSchool

We also want to say a heartfelt thank you for your patience as our district continues working through the implementation of our new PowerSchool Student Information System.

We know the transition has not been perfect. Changing such a large system comes with challenges, and we recognize that some of those challenges have impacted our families. Please know that teams across the district are working incredibly hard to address the issues, work out the kinks, and make sure the system is functioning well for everyone.

We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and grace as we continue to improve the experience.

Transportation Update

Transportation has also been a little bumpy this first week, particularly at dismissal.

One of our biggest challenges has been the bus that brings our DK students to Roguewood. We need to wait for that bus to arrive, safely get our DK students off, and then help them board their assigned buses for the ride home. When that bus is delayed, it creates a ripple effect for the rest of our dismissal process.

We are actively working through the timing and logistics so that we can get everything running according to the schedule we had planned.

Thank you for bearing with us as we get this process smoothed out. We know families are waiting at home and that a late bus can impact your afternoon plans. Your patience and understanding are truly appreciated.

And Most Importantly... Our Kids Have Been GREAT!

Despite all of the behind-the-scenes logistics that come with starting a new school year, the most important part of our week has been fantastic: our kids!

They have been learning routines, making connections, practicing expectations, helping one another, and beginning to build their classroom communities.

We are off to a great start!

Thank you for trusting us with your children each day and for being such an important part of the Roguewood community. We are looking forward to an incredible year together.

Have a wonderful weekend, and we will see everyone on Monday.

Warmly,

Amie Santillán

Principal

Back to school checklist

• Complete your PowerSchool parent login and student verification: Details on how to complete this task are in article below.  It is IMPERATIVE to complete the verification if you want your student to participate in school related events like field trips and picture day.  This is also where you can add other guardians/emergency contacts, let us know of any changes to medical history, address changes, and other important information. PowerSchool FAQs
• For students with daily or emergency medications, review our nursing policies (Nursing Services Department web page in Rockford Public Schools, fill out appropriate paperwork and drop medications off to the office before or on the first day of school. Please note: all medication forms must be signed by both a physician and a guardian.
• Kindergarten families: email (jbradley@rockfordschools.org) or drop off hearing and vision screening results prior to first day of school.
• LABEL EVERYTHING! Water bottles, hoodies, coats, shoes, hats, lunch boxes...everything!
  
  
  

hand 2 hand sign-up

We would like to offer your student the opportunity to participate in a program called "Hand2Hand".  This program helps provide a student with food for the weekends and is intended for families who currently may be experiencing a financial burden.

Hand2Hand Information and Sign Up

Student Verification

PowerSchool is Rockford Public Schools' new Student Information System. Through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, parents and guardians can access important student information, including:

• Student schedules

• Attendance records 

• Grades and academic progress

• Contact information 

• Student forms and registration information

• School and district communications 

If you haven't already, please create a login and register your student/s.  Thank you!

PowerSchool: Everything You Need To Know - Our District - Rockford Public Schools

Library Newsletter 

Click here for the Fall 2026 Library Newsletter

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.

Roguewood Elementary PTO

• President: Lindsay Medendorp
• Vice-President: Lee Ann Brunetz
• Treasurer: Megan Stelzer
• Secretary: Christina DeYonker
• Outreach Coordinator: Rachael Considine
• Events Coordinator: Elizabeth Gear  

REMINDERS

Feel free to pack an extra pair of socks, shorts, t-shirt, and sweatpants in your child's backpack during the spring months. Don’t forget to put your child’s name on coats, rain boots, etc. Thank you!

Weather Alert

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!

NO CELLPHONES OR SMART WATCHES

• Students with a cellphone will be asked to turn the phone off and not use them during the school day. Please do not text or call your student on their device during the school day. This creates a distraction to the classroom. We will always help with communication through the office or an email to the teacher if needed.

• Students with Apple watches or other wrist devices are asked not use the device to communicate during the school day.

• Students who need to contact home because they are ill or wondering about the end of the day pick up should talk to their classroom teacher who will help them navigate next steps of support.

• Devices at school are distracting to students during the learning day and we ask that unless your student needs the device to communicate after school that they stay home.

• Thank you for your support.

Roguewood REMINDERS

Who do I call if my student will be absent or late to school?

• If your student will be absent or tardy, please call the school phone 616-863-6374 option 1 OR email both the teacher AND Jenny Bradley at jbradley@rockfordschools.org or Justin Eckert at jeckert@rockfordschools.org 

• If a student is ill, you must include the symptoms (or diagnosis) for our weekly health report to KCHD

What if my student is out sick?

Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6374 or emailed to the front office 

Please leave a message on our general voicemail box if you are calling after hours. Whether you are reporting an absence on our voicemail, 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.

Who do I notify if I have a dismissal change for my student(s)?

• We kindly request that there are no early pickups after 2:45pm. Our office staff starts getting busy with dismissal duties throughout the building.

• Please be sure to let us know of any dismissal changes PRIOR to 2:00pm

• To contact us with changes, please call 616-863-6374 or email both the teacher AND Jenny Bradley (jbradley@rockfordschools.org) or Justin Eckert (jeckert@rockfordschools.org) in the event the teacher doesn’t see the message prior to dismissal. 

Where do I find parent communications?

• Our family newsletter and other updates are posted on the RPS website on the Roguewood's page bi-weekly during the school year

• You can also check out the Roguewood's Facebook page and Roguewood's PTC Facebook page

• Please always feel free to call or email the office with any questions

How do I set up or change busing for my student(s)?

• Please contact Transportation directly at 616-863-6328

• We also appreciate your help to support our drivers and remind your students of proper bus behavior

Important Contact Information:

• Office/Attendance Line  616-863-6374
• Justin Eckert (office)   jeckert@rockfordschools.org
• Jenny Bradley (office) jbradley@rockfordschools.org 
• Principal Santillán asantillan@rockfordschools.org
• Transportation Office   616-863-6328
• BAC/Child Care Office   616-863-6560

Other Helpful Links

• Suggested School Supply List
• Staff Favorites
• Rockford Public Schools Main Webpage
• Schoology