Knightly News: June 8, 2022

Dear Rockwood Valley Families,

The Rockwood Valley staff is proud of all of our recently promoted eighth grade students and we wish them all the best in high school and beyond. Pictures from our Farewell Ceremony for our eighth graders can be accessed through Interstate Studios St. Louis using the password knights2022. In addition to the ceremony, our eighth graders were able to enjoy the return of the eighth grade dance to Rockwood Valley, a trip to Tropicana Lanes, and a day at Six Flags. Our sixth and seventh grade students also enjoyed celebrations that included treats from Kona Ice for seventh grade and Fun & Field Day for sixth grade. These fun-filled events could not have happened without the support of our Rockwood Valley PSO and a number of volunteers who helped in a variety of ways. Thank you to all who helped make the closing days of the school year happy and memorable for our students and staff alike.

Parents of next year’s sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students will receive a summer information email in July. The message will include important information about Student Orientation. If you have any questions about scheduling for next year, please contact your child’s grade level counselor.

If you have any questions throughout the summer, I encourage you to check the RVMS website, call the Welcome Center at (636) 733-4270, or stop by. Rockwood Valley summer office hours are 7:30am - 2pm.

As always, if you have any questions regarding the information in this message or otherwise, please reach out by email hedrickkaren@rsdmo.org or by phone (636)733-4282. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure all students realize their potential.

With much gratitude,
Dr. Karen Hedrick

Announcements

A message from Mrs. Ruta:
Difficult decisions are never made lightly. In all of the decisions I have made over the past 7 years at RVMS, choosing to resign as the assistant principal at the end of my current contract has been the most difficult. I will forever be grateful for the colleagues, students, and community I have been privileged to serve. It has definitely been a valuable learning experience, and I will forever hold a special place in my heart for RVMS. While I will miss the energy filling the hallways, I am excited and optimistic about the next phase of my professional journey. The next assistant principal will be joining a remarkable community, and I wish them all the best! ~Sincerely, Beth Ruta

Grade Reports: Student report cards will be available in Infinite Campus June 13 - 20. On June 21 Infinite Campus will rollover to the 2022-2023 school year to facilitate Rockwood summer school programs. Archived PDF versions of 2021-2022 grade reports will still be available by contacting the Rockwood Valley office.

School Supplies 22-23: Order your school supplies now! The RVMS PSO is pre-selling school supply kits through June 26 for the 2022-2023 school year. Order online today and your child’s kit will be ready for pick up at Orientation, August 16. Visit  schooltoolbox.com to place your order today!

Welcome to Middle School: Do you have a child who will be transitioning to middle school next year? If so, Parkway-Rockwood Community Ed is offering the perfect program to prepare them for a successful sixth grade year. Enroll in Welcome to Middle School today and help your child learn to master middle school!

Student Orientation is Tuesday, August 16. Volunteers are needed!

Parent Square: The Rockwood School District is moving to a new platform for sharing all of the timely communication in our classrooms, buildings and district: ParentSquare. Rockwood will utilize ParentSquare to consolidate into one place the kinds of communications we used to share through platforms such as School Messenger, GroupMe, Remind and ClassDojo.  ParentSquare allows our district community to interact with our communications in a variety of ways between the app and the online portal. Check out this link for more information about this move to Parent Square. Child Nutrition Update: Breakfast and lunch will no longer be free to all students in the 2022-2023 school year. Families may apply for free and reduced meals if they believe they may qualify. Free and Reduced meal information and applications can be found on the Rockwood Child Nutrition page of the Rockwood School District website.

Upcoming Events

Important events for the 2022-2023 school year are being scheduled. To learn more about how the year is shaping up, check out our online calendar on our website.

Knightly News: May 10, 2022

News from the Principal

It is CELEBRATION TIME in our schools! The month of April closed with administrative professionals week to recognize
the folks who manage so much of our day-to-day functions, and paraprofessionals day to shine a spotlight on those who
are always there to provide direct support for students’ needs. Now that May is upon us, we celebrate the importance of music and physical education in our schools, both of which provide important outlets for our students. We celebrate our nutrition services team for providing healthy meals and friendly smiles to our students (even when they are shorthanded). We also celebrate our amazing Nurse Ridgeway who has worked tirelessly to take care of kids and staff every day. The month would not be complete without celebrating our teachers who amaze me every day with their creativity, content knowledge, and endless compassion. And of course, we celebrate our students. We honor their growth and successes and take time to reflect on just how far they have come and how much they have accomplished
this school year.

While we are doing all of this celebrating, we have even come up with a pretty fun (and messy) way to celebrate Officer Shepard, our School Resource Officer, and all members of the law enforcement community. This week, in honor of National Law Enforcement Week, students and staff are invited to join in a fundraiser in support of the Backstoppers organization. Beginning Wednesday, May 10 before school, students will have the opportunity to make their donations to this worthy cause. In exchange for each dollar they donate, students will receive a ticket to be entered into a drawing for the chance to toss a pie in the face of one of their beloved RVMS principals on Friday afternoon! Who doesn’t love the idea of getting to do that?! Donations of $10 will give students 20 tickets to the drawing, and donations of $50 will give them the automatic opportunity to ‘pie a principal’! I for one will be happy to take whatever pies come my way in an effort to Back the Blue!

Indeed, there is much to celebrate this month. Through these halls pass the best and the brightest staff, students, and families. I am so proud of the work that has been done by all and I will enjoy these closing days of the year knowing what we have accomplished has come as a result of collaboration and a collective commitment to our kids. As always, if you have any questions regarding the information in this message or otherwise, please reach out by email  hedrickkaren@rsdmo.org or by phone (636)733-4282. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure all students realize their potential.

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D.

Announcements

School Supply Kits: Get an early jump on school supply shopping for next year. Yes, you saw that right! We are happy to announce that the PSO will be selling pre-packaged school supplies for the 2022-2023 school year through School Tool Box. Visit  schooltoolbox.com to place your order! Store is open May 2nd - June 26th

Parent Square: The Rockwood School District is moving to a new platform for sharing all of the timely communication in our classrooms, buildings and district: ParentSquare. Rockwood will utilize ParentSquare to consolidate into one place the kinds of communications we used to share through platforms such as School Messenger, GroupMe, Remind and ClassDojo. ParentSquare allows our district community to interact with our communications in a variety of ways between
the app and the online portal. Check out this link for more information about this move to Parent Square.

Welcome to Middle School: Do you have a child who will be transitioning to middle school next year? If so, Parkway-Rockwood Community Ed is offering the perfect program to prepare them for a successful sixth grade year.Enroll in Welcome to Middle School today and help your child learn to master middle school! School Meals Update: Breakfast and lunch will no longer be free to all students in the 2022-2023 school year. The federal grant will end at the conclusion of this school year and meals will return to being paid, free, or reduced. Families may apply for free and reduced meals if they believe they may qualify. Free and Reduced meal applications can be found on the Rockwood Child Nutrition website https://www.rsdmo.org/Page/4976. Summer Academy meals will be Paid, Reduced or Free. Families will need to apply as soon as possible if they believe they will qualify and their child will be attending Summer Academy.

Upcoming Events

May 11-13: Backstoppers Fundraiser
Wed, May 11: National School Nurses Day
Wed, May 11: Choir Concert, RVMS Commons @ 7pm
Fri, May 13: PJs (and pies) for Police
Sat, May 14: 8th Grade Orchestra Music Festival, Kansas City
Mon, May 16: 8th Grade Civil War Experience
Wed, May 18: Babler & Pond 5th Graders visit RVMS
Wed, May 18: Orchestra Concert, RVMS Gym @ 7pm
Thurs, May 19: Chesterfield 5th Graders visit RVMS
Fri, May 20: 8th Grade Dance, RVMS Commons @ 7pm
Tues, May 24: 8th Grade Chromebook exchange
Wed, May 25: Spring Awards Ceremony, RVMS Gym @ 7pm
Thurs, May 26: Student of the Month deliveries
Fri, May 27: LHS Senior Salute, RVMS @ 1:30pm
Mon, May 30: Memorial Day ~ No School
Tues, May 31: 6th & 7th Grade Track Meets & 8th Grade Bowling trip
Tues, May 31: 8th Grade Farewell Ceremony, LHS Gym @ 7pm
Wed, June 1: 6th Grade Fun & Field Day & 8th Grade Six Flags trip
Thurs, June 2: Last Day of Second Semester
Thurs, June 2: Last Day for Students ~ 11:32am dismissal

Knightly News: April 18, 2022

News from the Principal

In the coming weeks, students across the state will complete a series of assessments for the Missouri Assessment
Program (MAP). As a public school in the state of Missouri, RVMS is required to administer MAP testing each spring and
all students must participate. Students in grades six through eight will complete assessments in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics. In addition, students in the eighth grade will also complete assessments in Science. We have done our best to develop a schedule for these assessments that will ensure a productive testing environment while also protecting classroom learning and instruction. We ask that families do their best to avoid planned absences on the days when testing is scheduled. Because all students are required to complete the assessments, missing a test session(s)will result in students being pulled from classroom activities for MAP make-up sessions. Please review the RVMS 2022  MAP testing schedule to plan ahead.

We also ask that students take care to charge their chromebooks at home each evening. Like most of students’ daily classroom assignments, the MAP assessments are only accessible online. Access to a charger or a loaner device are not readily available at school and it is critical that students arrive to school each day with a fully charged device. We appreciate your support in helping students be prepared to engage in classroom learning each day.

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D.

Announcements
Library Updates: Parents now have the ability to receive daily email notifications regarding the materials their child has checked out of the school library. Parents wishing to receive these daily emails should contact Rockwood Valley librarian Angie Kohout at kohoutangela@rsdmo.org to activate this feature.

Bus Reminders: In previous years, students were permitted to ride buses other than their own. With the shortage of drivers, routes have been consolidated and guest riders are no longer permitted. Any requests for a student to ride a bus other than their assigned route will be denied.In addition, due to the continued shortage of bus drivers and the kickoff of the busy high school spring athletics season,Rockwood activity shuttle buses for middle schools will run on an altered schedule for the remainder of the year. The Rockwood shuttle bus will not be available to pick students up from RVMS until 4:30pm. The activity period will still run from 2:45-3:45pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Students being transported home via parent pick-up or a Missouri Central bus will be dismissed at 3:45pm. Students taking the Rockwood shuttle bus will wait in the Commons or a classroom until 4:30pm when the shuttle arrives on campus.

Upcoming Events

Tues, Apr 19: PSO Dine to Donate @ Dewey’s, Ellisville @ 4pm
Thurs, Apr 21 & Fri, Apr 22: Spring Play, Charlotte’s Web, RVMS Commons @ 7pm
Tues, Apr 26: MAP Science sessions for 8th grade students
Wed, Apr 27: Administrative Professionals Day

 

Knightly News: March 26, 2022

News from the Principal

The final few weeks of the third quarter of the school year brought several exciting celebrations to Rockwood Valley. On March 10th we honored our sixth grade students who have earned a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or better, and on March 11th we honored the seventh and eighth grade students who have continued to maintain a 3.5 GPA throughout their middle school careers. Students earning this achievement are recognized as members of the Rockwood Valley Knights of the Round Table. While nearly 70% of our students earn this distinction, do not misconstrue the high rate of achievement as an ease for the accomplishment. Nothing could be further from the case. These students have worked very hard and demonstrated high levels of commitment to their learning. Hard work pays off, and we are so very proud of the hard work done by students, staff, and parents throughout the Rockwood Valley community each and every day. March also welcomed the opportunity for incredible concert performances by our Band, Choir, and Orchestra students. Led by Mr. Menner, Ms. Dobson, and Mr. Patton, our students’ talents shined, and we had the joy of listening to their beautiful music!

Lastly, we thank the phenomenal Rockwood Valley PSO for the triumphant return of the RVMS Trivia Knight for students. With 21 tables in attendance, the Commons was packed for a fun-filled evening of crazy costumes, silly games, and clever rounds of trivia. THANK YOU to all who made this event happen! It is a personal favorite of mine, and I missed it dearly in 2021.

The return from spring break ushers in the fourth quarter of the school year. This can be one of the most exciting and challenging times of the year for students. There is much fun to be had and still a good deal of work to be done. Prior to leaving from spring break, we took time during the advisory period to review a few school-wide expectations for success. Among the topics discussed were the expectations for morning arrival to school, cell phones (they should be kept in students’ lockers for the duration of the school day), student dress, hallway behavior, and the use of water bottles throughout the school day. We will continue to provide frequent reminders to students in the coming weeks in order to ensure a productive, fun, and orderly final quarter of the school year.

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D.

Announcements

Rockwood’s Proposition P is a no-tax-increase initiative on the April 5, 2022 ballot. If passed, Prop P will authorize the district to establish a dedicated annual funding source for technology and safety upgrades as well as cycle maintenance projects without raising the district’s total tax rate. This funding source would eliminate the need to borrow funds and pay interest on scheduled technology and safety upgrades and annual maintenance items, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars. For more information about Proposition P, visit the district website at www.rsdmo.org/PropP.

Activity Buses: Due to the continued shortage of bus drivers and the kickoff of the busy high school spring athletics season, Rockwood activity shuttle buses for middle schools will run on an altered schedule for the remainder of the year. The Rockwood shuttle bus will not be available to pick students up from RVMS until 4:30pm. The activity period will still run from 2:45-3:45pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Students being transported home via parent pick-up or a Missouri Central bus will be dismissed at 3:45pm. Students taking the Rockwood shuttle bus will wait in the Commons or a classroom until 4:30pm when the shuttle arrives on campus.

Upcoming Events

3/19-3/27: No School - Spring Break
Mon, 3/28: School Resumes - Fourth Quarter Begins
Thurs, 3/31: 6 Black Day Camp
Thurs, 3/31: March Student of the Month presentations
Fri, 4/1: 6 Red Day Camp
Mon, 4/4: No School for Students - Professional Learning for Teachers
Tues, 4/5: Election Day
Tues, 4/5: National Library Workers Day
Wed, 4/6: Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day
Thurs, 4/7: International Day
Mon, 4/11: PSO Mtg, 10am
Fri, 4/15: No School - Spring Holiday

Knightly News: March 6, 2022

News from the Principal

I was very proud to be at the Board of Education meeting Thursday evening where Rockwood Valley was recognized by our Board and Dr. Ricker. Along with Chesterfield Elementary, Crestview Middle School, and Wildwood Middle School, Rockwood Valley is ranked within the top 2% of schools in the nation by US News and World Report. This achievement is the direct result of the strong partnership we share with our families and community. We are proud of the community we serve and the success of our students because of the work we do together. 

Within the work, we do in our schools, social and emotional learning is an important part of the educational experience.  During the week of March 28 - April 1, students will be asked to complete an online questionnaire that encourages them to reflect on their own mindsets, experiences and approaches with learning.  These questions help us to check in with our students to ensure they feel connected to our school and we are meeting their social emotional needs.

The information that is collected in the questionnaire will be shared with your child’s school and teachers to guide the work that we do as a school and district (will not be used as part of their grade or academic record).  For a complete list of questions, please visit our website, https://www.rsdmo.org/Page/5488.

The survey is voluntary and students can feel free to skip any question or choose not to complete the survey.  If you do not want your child to complete the survey, please notify Mrs. Beth Ruta, assistant principal, rutabeth@rsdmo.org by March 15, 2022.

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D. 

Announcements

Progress Monitoring:  Infinite Campus is a great tool to monitor students’ assignments and grades. Progress grades are currently posted and the third quarter ends on Friday, March 18. Regularly accessing Infinite Campus and having a conversation with your child about their progress supports overall student success and helps keep open lines of communication between you and your child about how they are doing in school. 

PSO Trivia Knight:  Don't wait, sign up now for RVMS's Trivia Knight, Knights Through the Decades!  Online Registration is now OPEN! This FREE event for our students is a school tradition and we are BACK in person. On Friday, March 11 the doors open at 6:30pm, trivia is 7:00p-9:00p. The theme this year is "Knights Through the Decades". There will be prizes for best dressed and decorated tables, plus lots of door prizes! 

Tables can seat up to 10 students.  If a student doesn't have a team, that's ok!  PSO will pair individual students with a fun table of kids!

Student's can pick up an informational flier in the school office, or you can print one here.

Upcoming Events

Mon, 3/7: PSO Meeting, 9:30am

Wed, 3/9: Knights of the Round Table 6th Grade Ceremony, 7pm

Thurs, 3/10: Knights of the Round Table 7th Grade Breakfast, 8am

Thurs, 3/10: Knights of the Round Table 8th Grade Breakfast, 8:45am

Fri, 3/11: Fun Food Friday

Fri, 3/11: Trivia Night, 6:30pm

Sun, 3/13: Daylight Saving Time begins

Fri, 3/18: Third Quarter Ends

3/19-3/27: No School - Spring Break

Mon, 3/28: School Resumes

Thurs, 3/31: 6 Black Day Camp

Fri, 4/1: 6 Red Day Camp     

 

Knightly News: February 21, 2022

News from the Principal

We hope this message finds you enjoying this burst of spring-like weather on a long weekend. It is almost hard to recall
the ice and snow that kept us out of school on Thursday. When we return to school on Tuesday, we will resume our
regular day type rotation making our day of return a B day. This week we will be hosting Parent/Teacher conferences. Conference registration was open last week and all conferences are being held by appointment only. If you missed the conference sign-ups, you may email teachers directly to see if they have openings remaining in their schedules.

In addition to conferences, we will also host the Scholastic Book Fair. The fair will be set up in the school library where students and parents can browse the shelves and purchase available books during the In-Person Parent/Teacher conference on Tuesday, February 22nd. Families can also shop at the virtual book fair if you prefer to order online.Get all the book fair details here. Take a look here for a sneak peak of available books! Proceeds from this sale will be used to earn new books for the school library. The fair will take cash, checks, credit cards or parents can set up eWallet,which you can learn more about here. Due to the coin shortage, parents are encouraged to use check, credit card or eWallet when making purchases. We hope to see you at the fair!

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D.

Announcements

Morning arrival: As a reminder, the school day begins at 7:47am. Students coming to school via parent drop off should arrive at school by 7:30 am allowing plenty of time for them to make it to their first class of the day on time and prepared to learn. The doors at the South end of the building close each morning at 7:45 am and any cars remaining in line to drop off are redirected to the front of the building.

After school activities: A variety of activities are held after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:45 - 3:45 pm. Students may sign up for a shuttle bus or may be picked up at the conclusion of the activity period. Students should be picked up at 3:45 pm. Students who cannot be picked up at 3:45 pm should sign up for the activity shuttle bus.

Upcoming Events

Mon, 2/21: No School ~ Presidents Day
Tues, 2/22 - Fri, 2/25: Scholastic Book Fair
Tues, 2/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7pm by appointment
Thurs, 2/24: Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7pm by appointment
Tues, 3/1: 8th Grade Career Fair
Wed, 3/9: Knights of the Round Table 6th Grade Ceremony, 7pm
Thurs, 3/10: Knights of the Round Table 7th Grade Breakfast, 8am
Thurs, 3/10: Knights of the Round Table 8th Grade Breakfast, 9:30am
Fri, 3/11: Fun Food FridayFri, 3/11: Trivia Night, 6:30pm

Knightly News: February 3, 2022

News from the Principal

We hope this message finds you warm, dry, and safe at home with your loved ones. This has been quite a winter storm we have experienced over the past few days! When we return to school, we will resume our regular day type rotation, making our day of return a B day. 

When we return to school, we will also be operating under the revised Rockwood Safe Together standards with a mask recommended policy in place as long as our COVID positivity rate and number of COVID contacts experiencing symptoms remains below the 4% threshold. Please refer to the Rockwood Safe Together health indicators by school to monitor COVID levels within each school. As a reminder, students will be required to wear masks while on their buses due to a federal mandate. Please ensure your child has a mask to wear to and from school while riding the bus. 

We remain hopeful that the infection rates remain low and we will be able to continue our progress toward a return to normalcy within our schools. We appreciate your support, cooperation, and partnership as we move forward on this journey. 

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D. 

Announcements

Morning arrival:  As the cold weather has set in, the number of students arriving at school via parent drop off has increased significantly. As a result, the drop off line has become increasingly long and a growing number of students are arriving after the 7:47am start to our school day on a regular basis. I imagine this latest round of winter weather will only exacerbate the issue. Please plan accordingly and adjust your schedule so that students arrive at school by 7:30am allowing plenty of time for them to make it to their first class of the day on time and prepared to learn.

Please let us know if your child has been vaccinated. Since the beginning of the school year, we have been asking employees to voluntarily share with us if they have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and we have been publishing those numbers on our district website. Now that all K-12 Rockwood students are eligible to receive the vaccine, we are requesting that parents voluntarily disclose when their child has been fully vaccinated so we can update their immunization records and have an accurate measure of how many students are vaccinated in our building.

Originally, we asked parents to fill out an online form with the information. If you have already done so, we have that record. If you have not submitted the form, we ask that you take a photo of your child’s vaccination card and email it directly to our school nurse, Mrs. Erin Ridgeway, at ridgewayerin@rsdmo.org. Thank you!

Tell us how we’re doing: The Rockwood Heartbeat check-in is an ongoing process to solicit feedback to meet the needs of all members of our school community.  These checkpoints will be used to support re-entry transitions as we identify and respond to the needs of our students, staff and families. As part of these activities, parents/guardians are asked to complete an online questionnaire (3-5 questions) that encourages you to reflect on your own mindsets and experiences connecting with our school (view questions).

• Complete one form for each middle school student
• Use this link https://bit.ly/parent68 to access the survey.
• Make sure to select Rockwood Valley and the grade(s) that your children are currently in. 

Upcoming Events

Mon, 2/7:  PSO Meeting @ RVMS, 9:30am

Thurs, 2/10:  Dine to Donate @ Jimmy Johns (Ellisville), 3-9pm

Fri, 2/11:  Fun Food Friday

Fri, 2/18:  No School ~ Professional Development Day for Teachers

Mon, 2/21: No School ~ Presidents Day

Tues, 2/22: Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7pm by appointment

Thurs, 2/24:  Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7pm by appointment

Knightly News: January 17, 2022

 

News from the Principal

Tomorrow we begin the second semester. It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the school year, but here we are! With the beginning of the new semester, we are also beginning a weekly advisory period to the school day on Wednesdays. This thirty minute period will be utilized to support student learning in a variety of ways. Activities may include lessons in study and organizational skills, time to complete assignments, opportunities to access additional support, or small group needs-based activities. The advisory period is new to us and will evolve over time. We are excited for the opportunities it will bring. 

Rockwood has recently added a new feature to our Health Indicators on the district website that shows the total number of students and staff out by building because they either have COVID or they are close contacts and exhibiting symptoms of COVID. This is the data being used for our 2 percent and 4 percent thresholds for adjusting mitigation measures by building.

We want to assure you that we are closely monitoring COVID numbers at Rockwood Valley. At the same time, we are also working to ensure excellent learning opportunities for students in a safe, supportive, and healthy environment.

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D. 

Announcements

After School Activities:  Clubs and Activities are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:45 - 3:45pm. We encourage all students to get involved in at least one after-school activity this school year. Involvement in school activities is a great way to spend time with friends, meet new people who share common interests, explore new activities, get help with school work, make connections with teachers outside of the classroom, or meet new teachers. Most of all, clubs and activities help build a strong school community and a sense of belonging! Go to the Activities page on the RVMS website to find more information.

 Please let us know if your child has been vaccinated. As part of our Rockwood Safe Together mitigation efforts, the district has been encouraging all staff members and eligible students to get vaccinated to keep students and staff healthy and in school. We encourage all parents to work with their health care professionals to determine if the vaccine is right for their children. 

 Since the beginning of the school year, we have been asking employees to voluntarily share with us if they have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and we have been publishing those numbers on our district website. Now that all K-12 Rockwood students are eligible to receive the vaccine, we are requesting that parents voluntarily disclose when their child has been fully vaccinated so we can update their immunization records and have an accurate measure of how many students are vaccinated in our building.

Originally, we asked parents to fill out an online form with the information. If you have already done so, we have that record. If you have not submitted the form, we ask that you take a photo of your child’s vaccination card and email it directly to our school nurse, Mrs. Erin Ridgeway, at ridgewayerin@rsdmo.org. Thank you!

Tell us how we’re doing: The Rockwood Heartbeat check-in is an ongoing process to solicit feedback to meet the needs of all members of our school community.  These checkpoints will be used to support re-entry transitions as we identify and respond to the needs of our students, staff and families. As part of these activities, parents/guardians are asked to complete an online questionnaire (3-5 questions) that encourages you to reflect on your own mindsets and experiences connecting with our school (view questions).

• Complete one form for each middle school student
• Use this link https://bit.ly/parent68 to access the survey.
• Make sure to select Rockwood Valley and the grade(s) that your children are currently in. 

 Upcoming Events

Mon, 1/17: No School - MLK Day

Tues, 1/18: Second Semester Begins

Tues, 1/18: Counselor enrollment visit @ Pond Elementary 

Tues, 1/18:Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night via Zoom, pm

Wed, 1/19: Counselor enrollment visit @ Babler Elementary

Thurs, 1/20: Counselor enrollment visit @ Chesterfield Elementary

Knightly News: January 2, 2022

News from the Principal

I hope you and your families have enjoyed a wonderful holiday break! The time away has been a welcome opportunity to relax, spend time with loved ones, and prepare for the close of the first semester, and transition into the second semester of the school year. The first semester will conclude on Thursday, January 13. It will be an early dismissal day for students and we will take advantage of the morning to engage with them in a variety of activities for our school-wide Wellness Day. 

Beginning in the second semester, we will be adding a weekly advisory period to the school day on Wednesdays. This thirty minute period will be utilized to support student learning in a variety of ways. Activities may include lessons in study and organizational skills, time to complete assignments, opportunities to access additional support, or small group needs-based activities. The advisory period is new to us and will evolve over time. We are excited for the opportunities it will bring. Students will learn more about the advisory period in the weeks ahead.

Some of you have reached out about the recent announcement that the CDC is changing the quarantine time frame to five days. For our return on January 3, we will keep all previous protocols in place. Please stay tuned for communications from Rockwood School District for any updates. 

With much gratitude,

Karen Hedrick, Ed.D. 

Announcements

Teacher of the Year recognition is a longstanding program in the Rockwood School District.   It is the time of year to once again recognize the outstanding work of our staff at Rockwood Valley.  Nominations are accepted from our staff, students, families, and community members.  If you would like to nominate a phenomenal staff member for this award, please review the criteria below and fill out the google form.  Nominations will be accepted until 3:00 pm on Friday, January 14th.  

 

District Teacher of the Year Criteria-

1. Teacher of the year candidates do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential.

They:

1. Organize and plan content so that students can learn
2. Engage students by using a variety of instructional techniques
3. Behave in a professional manner
4. Are skilled, dedicated teachers who plan to continue teaching
5. Highly respected by students, parents, colleagues, and the community
6. Take an active role in the school community  providing service and leadership
7. Staff must be full-time teachers who intend on teaching next year.  Counselors, librarians, and instructional coaches are eligible to participate in Teacher of the Year programs.
8. Must be willing to participate in the Rockwood School District teacher of the year process.

 

PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO NOMINATE A TEACHER YOU FEEL BEST EXEMPLIFIES THESE QUALITIES.  

 

Rockwood Valley Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

 

Please let us know if your child has been vaccinated. As part of our Rockwood Safe Together mitigation efforts, the district has been encouraging all staff members and eligible students to get vaccinated to keep students and staff healthy and in school. We encourage all parents to work with their health care professionals to determine if the vaccine is right for their children. 

Since the beginning of the school year, we have been asking employees to voluntarily share with us if they have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and we have been publishing those numbers on our district website. Now that all K-12 Rockwood students are eligible to receive the vaccine, we are requesting that parents voluntarily disclose when their child has been fully vaccinated so we can update their immunization records and have an accurate measure of how many students are vaccinated in our building.

Originally, we asked parents to fill out an online form with the information. If you have already done so, we have that record. If you have not submitted the form, we ask that you take a photo of your child’s vaccination card and email it directly to our school nurse, Ms. <insert nurse name>, at <insert email address>. Thank you!

 

Tell us how we’re doing: The Rockwood Heartbeat check-in is an ongoing process to solicit feedback to meet the needs of all members of our school community.  These checkpoints will be used to support re-entry transitions as we identify and respond to the needs of our students, staff and families. As part of these activities, parents/guardians are asked to complete an online questionnaire (3-5 questions) that encourages you to reflect on your own mindsets and experiences connecting with our school (view questions).

• Complete one form for each middle school student
• Use this link https://bit.ly/parent68 to access the survey.
• Make sure to select Rockwood Valley and the grade(s) that your children are currently in. 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Mon, 1/3 - Wed, 1/12: Winter STAR Reading & STAR Math Testing

Mon, 1/10: PSO Meeting, RVMS Library, 6 pm

Mon, 1/10: PSO New Parent Welcome, RVMS Library, 7 pm

Thur, 1/13: RVMS Wellness Day, dismissal @ 11:32 am

Thur, 1/13: First Semester Ends

Fri, 1/14: No School - Teacher Work Day

Mon, 1/17: No School - MLK Day

Tues, 1/18: Second Semester Begins

Tues, 1/18: Counselor enrollment visit @ Pond Elementary 

Tues, 1/18:Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night, RVMS Commons, 7pm

Wed, 1/19: Counselor enrollment visit @ Babler Elementary

Thurs, 1/20: Counselor enrollment visit @ Chesterfield Elementary

 

Knightly News: November 15, 2021

News from the Principal

The most wonderful time of the year has officially begun at Rockwood Valley because Turkey Smash 2021 is underway! Turkey Smash is a very special tradition at RVMS when our community comes together to celebrate our school spirit. In keeping with tradition, the festivities began with the first donations being dropped into the coin drive collection jars in support of our Adopt-A-Family program. Because it was such a success last year, we are again offering an online donation option this year. Students are welcome to share this link to the RVMS Coin Drive 2021 with anyone who wants to be part of our efforts to take care of others this holiday season and throughout the year. Be sure to indicate the student’s name and team when making donations to make sure the spirit points go to the correct team!  

In addition to asking for every spare coin you have, your kids may also start asking you for odd, random clothing items in order to put together their spirit day outfits. Included below are the spirit day themes so you can help start brainstorming some creative looks. Also busily underway are team banner decorations and the finalization of team cheers.  Soon you too will know the cheers because teachers will be working hard to make sure the students get the chants firmly stuck in their heads! 

We hope this next week is as fun for you to hear about as it is for the kids to experience. Be sure to check in with them to learn their perspectives on who is leading the competitions and which team will be crowned the champions of Turkey Smash 2021! Thank you for supporting their participation in all of the festivities. Now, smash away, smash away, smash away all!!

Spirit Days:

Thursday, 11/18 = Country vs Country Club Day

Friday, 11/19 = Decades Day (1910-1990)

Monday, 11/22 = Pajamas Day

 

With much gratitude,

 Karen Hedrick, Ed.D. 

 

Announcements

 Fall Play: Rockwood Valley’s Opening Knight Productions is proud to present Frozen Jr. as our fall play. We are very excited to welcome back a full audience for each of the evening performances on Thursday, November 18th at 7pm and Friday, November 19th at 7pm. Tickets remain available for both shows and can be purchased online.

https://mo-rockwood-lite.intouchreceipting.com/.  

Pediatric Vaccination Information: As part of our Rockwood Safe Together mitigation efforts, we have been encouraging all staff members and eligible students to get vaccinated to keep students and staff healthy and in school. Now that all Rockwood students are eligible to receive the vaccine, we are requesting that parents voluntarily disclose* when their child has been fully vaccinated. This is strictly voluntary, but it will save everyone valuable time in contact tracing. As a reminder, those who are fully vaccinated are not subject to quarantine if they are determined to be a close contact with a positive case, as long as they are not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms. Providing your child’s vaccine information will also help us have a measure of vaccination rates within our school community and guide how Rockwood might adjust our policies to promote a safe learning and working environment.

 

This information is secure and will be accessible only by contact tracers with a need to know. Again, this is strictly voluntary! Even if you have already submitted this information to your school nurse in conjunction with contact tracing, we ask that you upload it via this new form so we have all the information in one place. 

*Please note: Rockwood is utilizing a new form provider, and we have information posted on our website about how to log in the first time.

Coat Collection: Two RSD students, one from Rockwood Valley and one from Wildwood, are holding a coat collection drive. They have set a goal to collect 1,000 new or gently used coats or sweatshirts for kids and teens of all sizes by November 20. RVMS will serve as a donation site for their collection. If you have coats that your kids have outgrown, this collection is a great way to pass those coats along and help someone in need this winter. 

Tell us how we’re doing: The Rockwood Heartbeat check-in is an ongoing process to solicit feedback to meet the needs of all members of our school community.  These checkpoints will be used to support re-entry transitions as we identify and respond to the needs of our students, staff and families. As part of these activities, parents/guardians are asked to complete an online questionnaire (3-5 questions) that encourages you to reflect on your own mindsets and experiences connecting with our school (view questions).

Complete one form for each middle school student
Use this link https://bit.ly/parent68 to access the survey.
Make sure to select Rockwood Valley and the grade(s) that your children are currently in. 

A Message from the PSO

PSO invites you to participate in our annual Adopt-A-Family program!   

Each year our school comes together to provide a dazzling holiday season for several families in the Rockwood community. We provide both needs (clothing, food, help with utilities, household items) and wants (games, toys, opportunities for family time) for each family member. Please look through the list of items and find something that sparks your holiday spirit of giving.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f044aafab28a5fc1-adopt5

If you choose to participate, please help us out with the following:

All unwrapped items should be turned in to the RVMS Welcome Center by November 29.
Each item (other than gift cards) on the signup list will be identified by a NUMBER. PLEASE attach a label with that number on it to any gift you turn in. This is critical in helping us make sure your gift gets to the correct person.
All gift cards should be turned in to Stacey Scott or Zana Phillips in the Guidance Office. Please write the dollar amount on the gift card.
Please include gift receipts for all clothing items in case they need to be exchanged for a different size.
If you have any questions or need clarification on anything, please contact Stacey Scott at scottstacey@rsdmo.org or at 636-733-4270 

The Wrap Party is December 7th right after school. Details and volunteer sign up coming soon!

 

 

Upcoming Events

Mon, 11/15 - Mon, 11/22: Turkey Smash Coin Drive & Spirit Week

Tues, 11/16: PSO Dine to Donate @ El Maguey, Wildwood 2-10pm

Wed, 11/17: RVMS Band Concert @ LHS, 7pm

Thur, 11/18 & Fri, 11/19: Fall Play -- Frozen Jr, 7pm

Wed, Nov 24 - Fri, Nov 26: No School - Thanksgiving Holiday