Roguewood Newsletter
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
News from Sra. Santillán
Dear Roguewood Families,
Roguewood is buzzing with momentum, and I am excited to share some of the meaningful moments and important updates from our school community.
Spreading the Love – A Student-Led Initiative
Our 5th grade Cheermeisters did something incredibly thoughtful this week. On their own initiative, they collected Valentine messages and treats for our staff because they wanted to ensure the adults in our building felt seen and appreciated.
That kind of empathy and leadership reflects the culture you nurture at home. Thank you for supporting this student-led effort and helping our staff feel genuinely valued and loved. It was a powerful reminder of the kind of community we are building together.
In addition to the Cheermeisters, February became Mail Month. You and your children have been invited to send in letters. Across the building, students have been thoughtful and intentional about making others feel seen and appreciated. Every grade level has partnered with another class to send mail to their reading buddies. These upper and lower elementary connections have been especially meaningful, fostering mentorship, encouragement, and joy.
100 Days of Learning & Connection
It is hard to believe we have already celebrated 100 days of school. Students and staff rocked their 100-day outfits and made it such a fun and memorable celebration.
For an added twist, 100 pictures were hidden throughout the school. As students found them, they brought them to the office and placed them on a giant hundreds chart. It turned our building into an engaging scavenger hunt filled with laughter, movement, and teamwork.
Donuts at Daybreak – Rescheduled
Due to our unexpected snow day, our 2nd Donuts at Daybreak event has been rescheduled to Friday, February 20th.
A heartfelt thank you to our PTO for their planning and flexibility in making this adjustment possible. We are incredibly grateful for the partnership and support that helps create these special community moments for our families.
High Rigor & February Focus: Engagement
Our rigor for learning remains high, and our focus for the month of February is Engagement.
We continue to deepen our work in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) during our Early Release days. Through this collaborative structure, our staff works intentionally around student learning, instructional strategies, and data-informed decisions to ensure every child grows. There is a strong sense of forward movement in our building, and our commitment to both academic excellence and student connection remains unwavering.
Moving Forward with PBIS
This year, Roguewood has officially assembled a formal PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) team and is receiving training through Kent ISD.
PBIS is an evidence-based, proactive framework that focuses on teaching, defining, and reinforcing positive behaviors rather than simply responding to negative ones. It helps create a safe, predictable learning environment where expectations are clear and consistently reinforced.
At Roguewood, we use the RAMS acronym to guide expectations:
Respectful
Accountable
Motivated
Safe
This framework emphasizes clear schoolwide expectations, common language, positive reinforcement, proactive redirection, and a tiered support system for students who need additional assistance. We now have both a formal implementation team and a schoolwide team that meets monthly to plan initiatives, reflect on behavior data, and make thoughtful adjustments. We are very excited about the clarity, consistency, and positive impact this work is bringing to our school culture.
Roguewood continues to be a place where connection, rigor, and belonging matter. Thank you for partnering with us as we build a school community rooted in engagement, high expectations, and care for one another.
With appreciation,
Amie Santillán
Principal, Roguewood Elementary
february is Mail month at roguewood
Donuts at daybreak - Take 2
Donuts at Daybreak - take 2! The snow may have tried to ruin our fun, but we are still planning to enjoy donuts with the second half of our student body. Students with last names L-Z are welcome to join us for donuts Friday, February 20th from 7:45-8:20 AM. We ask that parents remain with their students until 8:20 when they can head to their classrooms. We are looking for some help to make this event run smoothly!
Sign up here if you are able to lend a hand: Volunteer Sign Up Link
Conference Meals
Help us fuel the teachers during those long nights of conferences! Sign up to donate items or volunteer some time to make things go smoothly!
Roguewood Spiritwear
LAST CALL
Be sure to get your Roguewood gear ordered soon! The online store closes Sunday, February 15th.
Order here : 2026 Rougewood Elementary Online Store
Family Open Skate
Roguewood's time is 1PM to 3PM on February 28th at Cedar Rock Sportsplex. Purchase tickets at the door for $10 each which include two hours of open skating time and ice skate rentals. PTO receives $2 back in donations from each ticket sold during their school time slot.
Book Donations needed
Celebrate March is Reading Month at this FREE FAMILY EVENT while connecting with other Roguewood families!
Book Bingo 2026 is around the corner! In preparation for an amazing night of promoting reading, we are collecting donations of used children’s books. It is important that we have a variety of books for all of our students and families. We would love to pass along books that your family has maybe outgrown to another Roguewood family to enjoy!
We are especially looking for books targeting our upper-elementary students. We welcome your donations any time!
Roguewood is Hiring
Looking for a job where you're basically a celebrity? Well look no further. Roguewood is looking to fill a Parapro position at recess on Monday-Friday from 11-2.
We are also looking for more sub Parapros for recess, Spanish Immersion, and possibly in the classroom. Perks of the job include fresh air, hanging out with some awesome kids who are genuinely excited to see you, and learning random facts that you will absolutely share later.
Please reach out to Justin Eckert at jeckert@rockfordschools.com to learn how to apply.
Yearbook orders due in mARCH 27
Get your orders in now!
Our yearbook sales website is now open. The basic yearbook is $15 and all orders are ONLINE ONLY. You can order your yearbook HERE. Roguewood's yearbook code is 14559826.
UPDATE - ALL ORDERS DUE BY MARCH 27. In order to make sure our yearbooks get back to us before school ends we needed to move up the due date.
grasp
Registration for the 2026 GRASP Program is now open. See the attached document for more details or contact Community Services 616-863-6322.
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 or at recess, help 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 ■ 11:00am-12:50pm
- Lunch Recess - Sign up here ■ 11:00am-1:00pm
- Afternoon Recess - Sign up here ■ 1:50pm-3:25pm
Calling all Watch D.o.g.s.
Purpose of Watch D.O.G.S. is:
- 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 - Your Lunch
- 1:40pm-3:30pm - PM Recess and Dismissal
Unified Arts (Specials)
book fair update
pe 3-on-3 winners
PE classes participated in a 3-on-3 tournament for each grade level. Below are the winners for each grade level.
K-1 Spring Music Concert
STEAM: Save your Kleenex boxes
Please donate your empty tissue/kleenex boxes to our STEAM program!
Spanish Immersion-New Families Kindergarten Information
new family Spanish Immersion lottery
The Spanish Immersion lottery application window is now open.
New student lottery begins Monday, January 5, 2026 and ends on Friday, March 31, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
Interested RPS resident families must complete and email the following documents to jbradley@rockfordschools.org:
- Complete Spanish Immersion Lottery Application for Incoming Kindergarten students for the SI Lottery.
This is not your registration/enrollment for Kindergarten. - Birth certificate
- One proof of residency*
*Acceptable Residency Documents: Current utility bill within the last month, lease agreement (signed by landlord and tenant), City Assessor’s Tax Statement (current year)
All forms will be given a letter when you receive an email response. These letters will be used for the lottery.
- Each application is time stamped.
- We will not accept any applications after March 31, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
- You will receive a confirmation of receipt email within 48 hours of submission during business hours from January 5, 2026 – March 31, 2026.
- Confirmation email will also contain your Lottery Letter.
If the lottery application is not submitted by March 31, 2026, by 4:00 pm, late submissions will be added to the end of the waitlist after we have had the lottery.
Kindergarten Enrollment
save the date
Kindergarten Parent Information Night will be held on March 16th!
REF News/events
Dr. Matthews, Substitute Teacher
One of our staff members may be selected for a well-deserved day off with our own super substitute, Dr. Matthews! Once a month, Dr. Matthews will be trading his Superintendent’s office for the classroom and stepping in to substitute teach for a day.
How it works: Each $10 donation to the Rockford Education Foundation nominates a teacher to win a day off while Dr. Matthews takes over the classroom. All donations support REF educational grants, celebrate our incredible educators, and give Dr. Matthews a front-row seat in the classroom.
- $10 = 1 entry to nominate a teacher - multiple entries gladly accepted!
- Teachers may nominate themselves or a colleague
- One winner will be drawn monthly, January–May 2026
The Taste - Save the Date
The Rockford Education Foundation invites you to The Taste on March 5, 2026. This is REF's annual signature event, serving up amazing support for education through great food, drinks, and community partnership. The event will start at 6:00 pm and will be held at The Gilmore, 5179 West River Drive. The Taste hosts many local restaurants and businesses. Learn more, sign up to sponsor or purchase tickets online.
2025-2026 SI Boosters Board
Introducing our Rockford Spanish Immersion Board for the 2025-2026 school year.
President - Jessie Salo
Vice President - Kendra Brubaker
Treasurer - Matt Benander
Secondary Ed. Liason - Amy Sullivan
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.
President- Justin Rito
Vice President- Lee Ann Brunetz
Secretary- Christina DeYonker
Treasurer- Megan Stelzer
Events Coordinator- Liz Gear
Volunteer Coordinator- Rachael Considine
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
Thank you for joining us at our recent members’ meeting. We hope to see you at the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 14th!
Warm Fuzzies
Our Roguewood staff continues to do amazing things for the students. Every month, we try to have a special treat to keep their spirits up!
If you would like to give a little extra joy to the staff, please consider signing up to provide a warm fuzzy snack later this year. There are only a few spots left to fill! Do this as a family, group of families, or class/grade level collaboration. Ideas done in the past: stock the fridge, cocoa bar, candy/cookie bar, cheese tray - you can be as creative as you want or can be.
Popcorn Poppers
Popcorn Fridays are always exciting for the students! Thank you to our volunteers who have popped all those bags for them! We appreciate all those who have signed up to help - but we could always use a few back up poppers to call in in case of last minute cancellations. Please consider signing up as a back up here: Sign Up Here
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: Roguewood's PTO Facebook page
Cannonsburg Punch Cards
Cannonsburg’s punch cards offer DISCOUNTED LIFT tickets so that students in kindergarten through 12th grade can enjoy winter to the fullest. Punch cards also offer discounts on rentals and private lessons!
HOW TO PURCHASE A PUNCH CARD Punch cards can be purchased during office hours at Cannonsburg Ski Area. You can also purchase punch cards anytime online! Punch Card Handout
To purchase a punch card online, please follow the steps below.
Go to this website link: Cannonsburg Click on the C-flake icon for the type of punch card you would like to purchase. Fill out information, INCLUDING sponsor and school name.
School Sponsor: Tania Flikema (Roguewood 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!
If you have any other questions, please email: info@cannonsburg.com
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
Food Assistance
If your family needs help accessing nutritious meals, there are several local food resources available. Community food pantries and meal programs provide free groceries to anyone in need. Here is a link to all the local resources available to you.
Hand2hand
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.
