Belmont Elementary School
6097 Belmont Ave NE
Belmont, MI 49306
616.863.6362
Welcome Back, Belmont!
It was great to have students back in the hallways of Belmont Elementary! We have had a wonderful first week back and are starting the year off right with positive attitudes and big smiles! Students are adding their "Hopes and Dreams" to the 2025 bulletin board in the hallway and encouraging each other.
Next week, students will take some mid-year assessments. These assessments help us monitor student growth and achievement in the areas of reading and math. We are then able to make adjustments to instruction and/or provide interventions to students as needed. These assessments are likely not your student's favorite part of the school day. Please encourage your child to not stress and just do their best!
Thank you for sharing your child with us and don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything!
Rachel DeKuiper, Principal
Upcoming Events:
January 10 - Hoops for Haiti at RHS
January 13 - NWEA/MAP Mid-Year Assessments (reading and math)
January 17 - Popcorn Day
January 20 - MLK Day - NO School for Students
January 24 - School Spelling Bee (4th and 5th)
January 26 - Michigan's Birthday
January 29 - Belmont PTO Family Night!
February 5 - Early Release Day
February 12 - PTO Meeting
February 14 & 17 - NO SCHOOL - Midwinter Break
February 21 - Popcorn Day
February 24-28 - Scholastic Book Fair in the Library
February 25 - Parent Teacher Conferences (in person) - BC Pizza Fundraiser
February 26 - Early Release Day
February 27 - Parent Teacher Conferences (in person)
March 5 - Book Bingo and Art Show
PBIS assembly - Basketball Jones
On Thursday, January 9 Belmont students were treated to a special assembly funded by our PTO! Basketball Jones visited Belmont with an engaging and fun presentation focusing on positive behaviors. Students were reminded about why it's important to be safe, respectful, responsible, and kind, and had a great time! Thank you to our PTO for supporting for our students so well!
Next week, students will travel around the building to reinforce positive behaviors in different spaces at school. They will also do some learning around having a growth mindset and the "grit" to overcome challenges. Our fifth graders will be leading this learning opportunity and we are excited to have them model how to be safe, respectful, responsible, and kind all the time!
Hoops for Haiti - January 10
Friday, January 10 is the 15th Annual and Final Hoops for Haiti event at Rockford High School! This is a fun, family-friendly fundraising event benefitting the Haiti Foundation Against Poverty. Mr. Banta has provided students at Belmont the opportunity to participate in a Hoops for Haiti Shoot-a-Thon during PE class! Our goal is to add a grade level each year and grow Harvest Preschool in Haiti into Harvest Pre and Primary School.
Two years ago we were able to finish building Harvest Preschool because of the funds raised at Hoops for Haiti and last year we were able to add a kitchen, outdoor learning space, and break ground on a first-grade classroom. This is exciting and the students and families of Harvest School are so appreciative of Rockford's support. Go Rams!
Belmont...It's cold outside!
Please make sure your child is ready for outdoor recess every day. Here's a quick checklist of recommended gear:
- Snow Pants (highly recommended...NO BARE LEGS WHEN IT'S BELOW FREEZING!)
- Boots (must have to play on the wet, cold, and snowy field)
- Shoes (for after recess/indoor wear)
- Winter Coat (must have...NO BARE ARMS WHEN IT'S BELOW FREEZING!)
- Hat (recommended, but hoods are good too!)
- Mittens/Gloves (must have...thank goodness for pockets when we lose one!)
Students will go outside for recess as long as the temperature (including wind chill) is above zero. When they do go outside, they need to be dressed appropriately. If you need winter weather gear for your child, please let us know. We have resources that we are happy to utilize to keep our students safe and warm. Please reach out to Holly and Katie in the front office at 616.863.6362 if you need anything. They will be discrete and also make sure your child has what they need this winter.
Recess Rams ALL Winter Long!
Our students love it when Recess Rams are on the playground! So if you want to build a snowman or just play with some awesome kids, sign up to be Recess Ram!
Volunteers should always check in at the main office and grab a Recess Ram vest before heading to the playground. To sign up for Recess Rams, please click on the link below. THANK YOU for sharing part of your day with us...our students love seeing you at recess!
Belmont Elementary: Recess Ram
TRAILS UNIT 3 - SOCIAL AWARENESS
Students will be starting Unit 3 in TRAILS this month. Unit 1 focused on self awareness with students noticing their thoughts, feelings, and urges to act. In Unit 2, the lessons incorporated skills to help students self manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. For Unit 3 students will focus on social awareness with students considering others' perspectives and developing empathy.Families can click on the "Family Connection" link for information and activities that support what we are learning at school, at home!
Lunchroom Ram
In addition to our Recess Ram program, we are also looking for volunteers to help in the lunchroom. With the weather getting colder, we are hoping to have extra hands in the lunchroom AND in the hallways after lunch with students getting their winter gear on. Thank you in advance for considering! We appreciate our Belmont families more than you know!
Students are sharing their goals for the new year on this interactive bulletin board outside of our library. It's neat to see what is important to them in the new year and we look forward to helping them meet their goals! We look forward to also partnering with Belmont families in the new year and are excited to see our students grow during this second half of the 24/25 school year!
Student Absences
Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6362. If you need to email an absence, please email both Holly and Katie at hcombs@rockfordschools.org and ktrolla@rockfordschools.org.
Please leave a message on our general voicemail box if you are calling after hours. Whether you are reporting an absence on our voicemail or speaking with Karen or Jamie we need to know the following things:
- 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
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!
Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up Reminders
When dropping students off in the morning, please remember the following:
- Doors open to Belmont students at 8:25.
- Form a single line along the sidewalk and pull ahead as far as you can (until the sidewalk ends).
- Drivers in this line must stay in their vehicle and continue to pull forward when space allows.
- Students may not exit the vehicle until the vehicle is completely off the main road and at a complete stop.
- Students must walk on the sidewalk to the school doors.
- Please keep your goodbye routine short and sweet.
- If you have to pull off and wait on the main road, please consider putting your hazard lights on.
- If the driver is exiting the vehicle, they must park in a parking space and walk their child to the sidewalk.
- Another option for morning arrival is to use the lot next to Book Comp across the street and let our crossing guard safely guide students to school at 8:25.
When picking your students up at the end of the day:
- Please form two lanes and pull ahead as far as you can (until the sidewalk ends).
- Please have your child's last name displayed in the window.
- If you need a new yellow sign for your vehicle, please let us know ASAP. These signs help us stay efficient and safe when getting students to the correct vehicle.
- Please avoid large gaps between vehicles. Pull ahead whenever space allows.
- If you choose to exit your vehicle, please park in a parking spot. You should not be exiting your vehicle if you are waiting in one of the two lanes.
- Some families have chosen to pick up their upper elementary students from the Book Comp lot across the road. This is another option and we have a wonderful crossing guard that will help students safely cross the street to you.
SCHOOL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - Access support today!
Say “I have an SAP with Rockford Public Schools” when you call 800.442.0809 and press “1.” Every RPS family member in your household is eligible. The Rockford Education Foundation (REF) has proudly partnered with Rockford Public Schools to provide expert counseling, therapy, and resources through Pine Rest’s School Assistance Program (SAP).
Confidential counseling services for all family members
-The SAP includes three free confidential counseling sessions per episode of care. All benefits are available to every member of the household.
Free online resources with personal advantage library
-Access to a library of articles, videos, webinars, calculators, locators, assessments and trainings on personal finance, legal matters, health and wellness.
Free financial and legal consultations with wallet wisdom
-Includes a financial recourse library of webinars, calculators and articles to help you with debt consolidation, student loans, retirement saving, mortgage lending and more.
"What is Jovie thinking?" Caption Contest
Thank you to the students who participated in our Jovie caption contest over the holiday break!
We had some great student submissions! Read through the list and see if you have a favorite:
Why, hoomans? Why? I can’t believe they forgot my elf ears, I knew something was missing!
“I asked to be Mrs Claus…” "Am I handsome?"
I think Jovie is thinking about Christmas break and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
The dancers REALLY had to wear this! Who put me in this ridiculous Elf suit?!?!
The things I do for humans…..good thing I am the best dog ever!!
Woof, woof! Christmas break here we come! Why am I here? I want food!
I think Jovie is thinking he wishes he was an Elf at the North Pole.
Santa Paws better have a good gift for me this year!
"I look like a dancing elf!" "What is happening here?"
I don't get paid enough for this... “I look so cute!” This is a silly elf hat!
She’s thinking that she’s a cotton-headed ninny-muggins!
Where Santa is with my toys?!?!? Why do humans think dogs need to wear clothes?
Just get me out of this already! Where are the treats? Santa’s number one;)
now can u get me out of this elf costume!!!!!!! What is this goofy ahh thing?
GRASP IS BACK!
GRASP is a correspondence program for students in Kindergarten through 8th grades which helps students maintain reading and math skills while they are on summer break. Enrolled students will receive a packet of materials with a booklet containing nine lessons. It should take your student approximately one hour to complete each weekly lesson. They can complete one lesson a week or work at their own pace, as long as all lessons are submitted before August 8th. The students can mail the lessons to GRASP for scoring and the results will be returned to them, via the email provided. Or, new this year, lessons can be scored with a parent/guardian cell phone instead of mailing them in! Details regarding this process will be sent in May to the email provided on the order. There is also an online version of GRASP for students in 4th through 8th grade and these students will also receive results via the email provided.
Students who complete and submit at least seven lessons with 70% accuracy are awarded a certificate. Those who complete and submit all nine lessons with 70% accuracy will receive a medal! Certificates and medals will be distributed by your student’s school at the beginning of the next school year.
Please order your student’s CURRENT grade level. If there are extenuating circumstances, order the level that is appropriate for your student. The fees for the summer of 2025 are $26 for one subject or $48 for both subjects for each student. You can enroll your student for the book version (grades K-8) or the optional online version (grades 4-8) by completing the registration and payment online.
Enrollment opens 2/13/25
Enrollment for the 2025/2026 school year opens February 13th. Children who turn five years old on or before December 1, 2025 are eligible to enroll for the 2025/2026 school year.
