RES Weekly Buzz

Many thanks to Ms. Burke for organizing another wonderful book fair for RES this year! Once again, there were many terrific books to choose from for people of all ages. Thank you also to the teachers and staff who helped support the students during their visit times, guiding them in the right direction and providing them with a fun experience.

The RES Spring Concert was a HUGE HIT! The elementary bands, orchestra, and chorus have made spectacular progress since the fall and their hard work didn't go unnoticed. Thank you to our fearless music leaders: Nathan Cohen, Dana Weaver, and Kaitlin Shaw-Reese for a beautiful concert, along with Logan LaRue and Thom Smoker for their assistance. We can't wait for next year's concerts! Happy Weekend.

• April 9th & 10th: ELA MCAS Grades 3-5
  
• April 12th: 1/2 Day of School for both Staff & Students
• Pre-K Dismissal 11:30am
• K-5 Dismissal 12pm
• April 15th-19th: Spring Vacation
• April 30th & May 1st: Math MCAS Grades 3-5
• May 18th: Motif #1 Day 5K
• May 27th: No School - Memorial Day
• May 31st: 1/2 Day of School

2023-2024 RPS School Calendar

2023-2024 RPS Music Calendar

RES has purchased ISO 12312-2 certified solar eclipse glasses for all students and staff at RES for the eclipse on April 8th. A partial eclipse should start in our area around 2:15 pm if the weather cooperates. We should have ~ 90% totality around 3:30 pm, with the eclipse ending around 4:30 pm. These glasses will be sent home with the students to keep. Please remind your child that it is very important that they kept their eye protection on (solar glasses will be provided by teachers) when they are looking at the solar eclipse.

Here are some resources for safety tips and teaching about the solar eclipse that we have shared with the RES staff:

• Three Tips to Prepare for the Total Solar Eclipse, Space Center Houston

• 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, NASA

• Resources for the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, DESE

All Lost and Found will be donated over April Vacation.

NEXT TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY, April 9th and 10th:

ALL 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be taking part in the English Language Arts (ELA) MCAS assessments. Please make every effort to ensure that your child is on time for school on these days. If your child will be out of school for an illness, please call the office to let us know.

Please review these tips to help your child be prepared for testing and to ensure that the experience is as positive as possible for them and your family.

• Have your child bring a reusable water bottle to keep at their desk
• Make sure your child gets enough sleep the night before a test.
• Make sure your child eats breakfast the morning of the test.
• Breakfast is available here at RES beginning at 8:30 am in the cafeteria.
• Ensure that your child arrives to school on time.
• Encourage your child to take their time and put in their best effort.
• Encourage your child to always check their work.
• Talk about the test in a positive way.
• Ensure your child that their teacher has provided them with excellent strategies to help them be as successful as they can be.

DESE MCAS Resources for Parents/Guardians

Morning Music Schedule 23/24

Winter Session #2 of Before/After School Activities

Spring Session of Before/After School Class Sign up

• Weekly Schedule Spring Session-Starts after April vacation

Savings Makes Sense:

Grades 3-5 at RES on Thursdays 8:30-8:45am (RES Cafe)

Spring Run Club: Starts March 25th, ends with Motif #1 Day, 5/18/24

RES Juggling Club:

Grades 2-5 at RES on Thursdays, 8-8:45am (RES Gym)

The Motif #1 Day 5K and 1 Mile road race/run/walk is set to take place on May 18th. This exciting event aims to build community spirit and support health and wellness initiatives at Rockport Public Schools. To participate, simply click on the registration link. If running isn't your thing but you still want to contribute, a donate link is available. Your support is invaluable in fostering health and wellness at RPS – thank you!

Sign up here

Registration is ongoing

This is for NEW students only.

Must be a Rockport Resident

Current students do not need to enroll again.

K/1 enrollment for *New* Students only

Rockport Integrated Preschool Information for 24/25

Upcoming Events:

• Watch for upcoming events

PTO Membership Form

*** Updated COVID-19 Guidance from the

Massachusetts Department of Public Health ***

• If your child develops symptoms (fever, cough, congestion, etc.) of a respiratory virus, such as COVID-19, please keep them home until they are feeling better. For most respiratory illnesses, symptoms generally begin to improve after 72 hours.
• Your child may return to school as soon as they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of medications like Tylenol/Ibuprofen) AND once any symptoms have improved.
• Your child is no longer required to stay out of school for a full 5 days. However, if they are still within the first 5 days of the onset of respiratory symptoms and/or testing positive for COVID-19, your child should wear a mask at school and keep some distance between themselves and others.
• Please remember that masks should fit well and cover both the mouth and nose.
• If you have a child who is unable to wear a mask, please consider keeping them home until their symptoms have fully resolved.
• Follow good hygiene measures, such as frequently handwashing/sanitizing, covering coughs/sneezes, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and common spaces.
• If your child is exposed to someone with COVID-19 or another respiratory illness, they do not need to stay home as long as they remain asymptomatic. Please do an at-home rapid COVID test if they do become symptomatic or 5-7 days after initial exposure.
• Remember to get your child vaccinated annually for both COVID-19 and Influenza.
• Free rapid COVID-19 test kits are available from the Town of Rockport.

PLEASE remember to send a water bottle with your child to school every single day!

It's Springtime. If your child has symptoms of seasonal allergies (sneezing, runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes, etc.), please make sure to give them an over-the-counter treatment (as advised by your pediatrician) before sending them to school. This can help make your child feel more comfortable during outdoor activities that occur during the school day.

• Any elementary, middle, or high school positions that are open in Rockport Public Schools are posted here.

• Click here or scan our QR code to see all available positions.

Click the links below to access the various resources:

• RES Staff 2023-2024
• RPS Community Flyers

• Hidden Child of the Holocaust: April 7,2024, the Chabad Jewish Center of Cape Ann will have the honor to host Mrs. Janet Applefield as she shares her story of survival, hope, and resilience at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA. The lecture will be accompanied by a musical performance featuring the New England Klezmer, which includes Yaeko Miranda, Jim Prendergast & Sonny Barbato. For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit www.capeannsurvivor.com

• Positive Solutions for Families-

  Positive Solutions for Families beginning on Tuesday, March 5th at Pathways for Children, 5:00-6:30 pm for six weeks. This popular, FREE parenting program introduces great strategies for coping with the everyday challenging of parenting a little one. Please help us spread the word and see the flyer for all the details. This is offered by Pathways for Children in collaboration with the Gloucester Preschool and is open to all community families.

• K-8 Rockport Youth Basketball
• January - May 2024 offerings at Cape Ann Museum
• Cape Ann Youth Lacrosse