ROCKET REPORT Rocky Ridge Elementary School Newsletter April 14, 2016

Upcoming Events:

April 18-21 4th Grade ACT Aspire Testing April 25-28 3rd Grade ACT Aspire Testing April 28 Kindergarten and New Student Registration 4-6pm April 21 Progress Reports Go Home April 29 Spring Fling 4:30-7:30pm April 29 All Library Books and Unpaid Accounts Due May 9-13 Barnes & Noble Book Fair

ACT ASPIRE TESTING

ACT Aspire Testing begins this month for 3rd and

4th grades on the weeks listed above in Upcom-

ing Events (5th grade finished testing this week).

Please make sure your student is well rested

each morning and has a nutritious breakfast ei-

ther at home or here at school. Students will

need to leave their chromebooks and chargers at

school each day.

Also, testing begins promptly at 8:00. If you are

tardy, you will not be per mitted to take the test.

CLASSROOM CLIPS

KINDERGARTEN - The kindergarten students have a busy week next week. Please do not forget that we will be going on a field trip to Old Baker Farm on Monday, April 18th. Parents, if you are meeting us there, we should arrive around 9:15ish. If you would like to follow the bus in your car, we will be leaving the school around 8:45ish. We will be outside the whole time, so please dress your child in appropriate clothes and shoes. If your child is bringing a lunch from home please put it in a disposable bag (no lunch boxes). As a reminder, NO SIBLINGS ARE ALLOWED ON SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS. Your teacher should have already contacted you if you are the parent who will be riding the bus. We will also be going on a field trip to Children's Theater on Friday, April 22nd to see Jack and the Beanstalk. Your teacher should be contacting you if you are the parent chaperone for this field trip. As a reminder, due to space we can only take one parent on this field trip. 1ST GRADE - First grade is super busy this time of the year! We are getting ready for 2nd grade by working on different addition and subtraction strategies. We can't wait for our upcoming field trip to Ruff-ner Mountain next week! 2ND GRADE - The second graders have begun their unit on measurement. They are measuring lengths of objects by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks and measuring tapes. If your child has access to technology at home, a great website for math is IXL. The specific activities for our unit of measurement are found in the following sections: S.2, S.3, S.4, S.8, S.9, S.10 and S.15. 3RD GRADE - Want to see STEAM in action? Check out the storm shelters the 3rd graders have been building! The students researched Natural Disasters around the world and the effects on our environment and population. With a set budget, students had to plan, purchase supplies and then build a storm shelter that could house three members of their family. Their shelters were then tested to see if they could with-stand winds from different level tornadoes. A hairdryer, at different speeds and length of time, was used to simulate the high winds. Students then evaluated their storm shelters and discussed improvements that could be made to increase the shelter's effectiveness! Students' pride in their work and learning was evident throughout this real-life task! 4TH GRADE - In reading, the fourth grade students are working on the following skills: Point of View, Fact or Opinion, Preparing for ASPIRE, reviewing point of view, along with figurative language and gen-res. As for writing, the students are working on Capitalization Rules, Greek and Latin Roots, as well as Prefixes and Suffixes. In Alabama history, the students are studying what life was like in Alabama during the 1950's and 1960's. Also, in science, the students are continuing to study electrical circuits. As for math, students are reviewing geometry and fractions as well as beginning decimals. 5TH GRADE - The fifth graders are finishing up the ACT Aspire test! They have done great so far!!!! We are quickly gearing up for the end of the year!! Be on the look out for information about up-coming field trips next week and other special events!!! LIBRARY NEWS - Please see the following end-of-year dates for the library: Library Books and Unpaid Accounts Due April 29 Barnes & Noble Book Fair--May 9-13 in the Theater Book Fair Family Shopping--May 10, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Barnes & Noble In-store Event--May 15, Patton Creek store

From The Principal’s Desk:

Re: Placements for the 2016/17 School Year

As this year draws to a close and we begin class placements for next year, I would like to in-vite you to help us with this process. As in the past, we will NOT accept requests for specific teachers. However, since you are the person who knows your child best, I en-courage you to send me an email (duswatte@hoover.k12.al.us) that describes how you feel your child learns and/or the teacher characteristics that support your child’s needs. In placing each child, this year’s teacher(s), the counselor, assistant principal, support teach-ers, and I will use the information we have and your feedback to try and match him/her with a teacher who best meets his/her individual needs. Please understand that with over 600 students, we will do our very best to meet student needs but will also consider whole class dynamics and demographics.

Emails regarding placement must be received by April 22, 2016. If you do not receive a confirmation request on or before April 23, 2016, please contact the office at 439-2900.

Once again, it has been an incredible year at the Rock and I thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do to make this a great school.

Looking forward to another great year with you and your child,

Dil Uswatte, Ed.D

Principal, Rocky Ridge Elementary

Notes from the Nurse Dear Parent/Guardian, The end of the school year requires some housekeeping tasks throughout the school. The health room is no exception. An adult will be required to pick up any medications that your child may have in the health room. Medications should be picked up by noon on May 26. Any medi-cations left at school will be destroyed after noon on May 26. When your child returns to school in August, a new medication form with parent and physician signature will be required. One form will be required for each med-ication brought to school for the 2016-2017 school year. If you have any questions please call me at 439-2930. Have a safe and happy summer! Nurse Gardner

ROCKY RIDGE HEALTH ROOM

Nurse’s Corner

***You may also begin registering new Kindergarten students for the 2016-2017 school year now ahead of the district-wide date of April 28th! You can come to Rocky Ridge to register anytime during the school day except between 11:30-12:30. Thank you.

HooverCitySchools Transition Night

May 2, 2016

We want all of our students to have the opportunity to see their school for the 2016-17 school year! Please attend the event for the school your child will attend Next School Year based on the new rezoning plan. This will be your opportunity to tour the schools and meet some of the school staff. If you are unsure where your child will be zoned next year please go to: www.hooverrezoning.com

Brock's Gap Intermediate (3-5)- 6:30-7:30 1730 Lake Cyrus Club Drive

Hoover, Alabama 3524 439-1600 Principal: Mr. Scott Mitchell

Green Valley Elementary (K-5)- 6:30-7:30 3200 Old Columbiana Road

Hoover, Alabama 35226 439-2500 Principal: Mr. Jeff Singer

Gwin Elementary (K-5)- 6:30-7:30 1580 Patton Chapel Road Hoover, Alabama 35226 439-2600 Principal: Dr. Kimberly White

Riverchase Elementary (K-5)- 6:30-7:30 1950 Old Montgomery Highway Hoover, Alabama 35244 439-3400 Principal: Dr. Alice Turney

Rocky Ridge Elementary (K-5)- 6:30-7:30 2876 Old Rocky Ridge Road Hoover, Alabama 35243 439-2900 Principal: Dr. Dil Uswatte

South Shades Crest Elementary (K-2)- 5:25-6:30 3770 South Shades Crest Road

Hoover, Alabama 35244 439-3000 Principal: Dr. Kara Scholl

Trace Crossings Elementary (K-5)- 6:30-7:30 5454 Learning Lane Hoover, Alabama 35244 439-2700 Principal: Mrs. Carol Barber