news from the edge
Shannon Ouellette-Principal
souellette@rockfordschools.org
Address: 9605 Edgerton Ave, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: 616-326-1030
A message from Mrs. Ouellette
Happy New Year! We had a great first week back and the kids were excited to connect with friends and to be back at school. I would expect they will be tired this weekend after our first week back which can often feel like the first week of school.
We have chosen the life skills of RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY for the next month. We are asking students to take responsibility for cleaning up after themselves in the lunchroom and taking care of all of their snow gear after recess. In regards to RESPECT, we are reminding students that both "what" they say and "how" they say it is important. Students experienced a school assembly on Friday that supports both of these skills.
The district has a new website and each school has a new and updated webpage. Newsletters will be communicated on the website and an email will come to you letting you know there is an updated newsletter on the website. All newsletters will be archived so if you ever need to look back for information you will be able to do so.
Next week, each classroom is going to have an opportunity to spend time outside at our Nature Center. Mrs. Dzirbowicz has activities planned for each grade level. Please dress students in warm clothes and boots for this day (your teacher will communicate what day your child will be going out to do this).
Important dates
- January 17: LIONS Day! Wear your Detroit Lions Gear!
- January 20: No School MLK Day
- January 30: Popcorn Day
- February 5: Early Release Day (1:25)
- February 13: Valentine's Parties
- February 14 and 17: No School Winter Break
- February 26: Early Release Day (1:25)
- February 25 and 27: Parent/Teacher Conferences
- March 19: Book BINGO and Art Show 6:30 PM
- April 15: Spring Music Program 5:45 (Kindergarten-5th Grade)
assembly on Friday
Today our students will all experience the Super U Challenge Program assembly. Thank you to our PTO for sponsoring this opportunity for our students. The assembly focus is on Respect, Responsibility and Kindness and is reported to be highly entertaining and engaging for students. I am writing this prior to our assembly but we have only heard great things about the program and the message supports the life skills we are working on as a building.
Substitute paraprofessionals needed
Edgerton Trails is looking for individuals that would like to substitute when we need an extra paraprofessional. This may include being a classroom or recess paraprofessional substitute or subbing in the office. Please call or email Melissa Schad in the front office if interested. Mschad@rockfordschools.org or 616.326.1030.
Help Needed
Each month our PTO pops popcorn for our students. The kids love this day. We are in need of some volunteers to help with popping and delivering the popcorn to classrooms. Please consider volunteering so that we can continue this program for our students. Thank you.
Use Access Code: ET2025 once on the Sign Up Genius
order your Edgerton Trails yearbook
Order your Edgerton Trails Yearbook! Cost is $15.00 and yearbooks can ordered at the link below. Deadline to order is March 28. The office does not order extra yearbooks as all orders are taken online by individual families.
Winter Weather is Here!
Staying in for Recess?
The recess period provides a change of pace, exercise and release of tension. If your child is well enough to come to school, we can assume he/she is well enough to go outside for recess. All children are expected to go outside unless the weather in not suitable. Requests for extended periods inside may require a statement from your doctor. Children coming down with or having colds, sore throats, etc. and are unable to play outside should stay home from school.
Warm Clothing
We highly encourage all students to dress for the weather and wear the winter gear that they brought to school. This includes hats, mittens, boots, snow pants, and coats. We ask that all students bring boots to school each day from Thanksgiving through Spring Break. Conditions change quickly and our playground often goes from muddy to snowy to just plain wet in a matter of hours. Due to this, students will be removing their outdoor foot attire when they go into the classrooms. Therefore, all students must have a pair of shoes at school along with their boots.
Feel free to pack an extra pair of socks and sweatpants in your child's backpack during the winter months. Don’t forget to put your child’s name on coats, snow pants, boots, etc. Thank you!
Label
The winter weather is here, and students are dressing in layers, which means our lost and found will be growing. To avoid your students clothing from going into the lost and found PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING!!! Label all coats, boots, mittens, hats, etc. Labeling items will ensure they will back it back home. Thank you!
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!
Book BINGO coming in March-books needed
We are collecting new/used books for our first Book BINGO event. This will take place on March 19 at the school. The Book BINGO event will take place at the same time of our Art Show. Books can be for any age kiddos as we have siblings also come. Book donations can be brought to the bins in the front office. Thank you.
Families of Bus Students
Please read this message from the transportation department
Dear Rockford Community:
We are pleased to introduce you to My Ride K-12, a mobile app where you can access your student’s secure data at the touch of a button. Access to real-time data helps your student to be at the right place at the right time.
My Ride K-12 capabilities include the following:
- Stop location, assigned route, and scheduled pick up time
- GPS geolocation push notifications, giving estimated time of bus arrival and information concerning bus status changes
- Real time communication and messaging
- Secure and confidential log in
- Android/iOS app and Web Version available
The app is available for up to four users per student. If you would like to opt out of this platform, please contact transportation to have My Ride K-12 disabled for your student.
To access My Ride K-12 for your student, you will need to complete the set up by following the directions included in the Parent User Guide. Users will need their student’s ID number and Last name to link to their student. Please follow the Parent User Guide for instructions on how to access and use the app and Web Version. Please allow your phone to send notifications from this app and remain logged in to receive district notifications.
We trust this will be a helpful tool for you! Should you have any questions or concerns or would like to limit or remove access for your student on My Ride K-12, please contact the transportation department at 616-863-6328.
Rockford Public Schools
Transportation Department
My Ride K-12 Letter to Parents (002).docx
School assistance program (SAP)
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.
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 on-line version of GRASP for students in 4th through 8th grade and these students will also receive results via the email provided.
Students who successfully complete and submit at least seven lessons with 70% accuracy are awarded a certificate. Those who successfully 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.
