Teya Cotter - Principal
tcotter@rockfordschools.org
Address: 4894 Sturgis St., Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6344
Fax: (616) 863-6357
Important Dates
- January 29 Spelling Bee 12:45 Music Room
- February 25 Conferences
- February 26 Book Fair Family Nigh
- February 27 Conferences
Early Release Days
- February 5
- February 26
- March 12
- March 26
- April 23
- May 7
Students will eat lunch at school and dismissal will be at 1:30 pm on those days. Please plan ahead for transportation changes.
announcements
Lunch Menu Changes for the week of January 27th-31st
Monday - Hamburgers
Tuesday - Ravioli
Wednesday - Chicken Tenders
Thursday - Yogart Snack Meal
Friday - Baked Chicken Leg
Newsletter Dates
All future newsletters will be featured on the new Rockford website. There will be a new biweekly schedule for elementary schools. All newsletters will be posted by 4pm on the following days:
January 24, February 7, February 21, March 7, March 21, April 2 - optional, April 18, May 2, May 16, May 30.
A link will be sent out through Family Access to help families navigate the new schedule.
outdoor classroom update
Hello families! 
Soon we will be joining Mrs. Dzirbowicz outdoors for a lesson about animals in the winter. The temperatures will be low, so let’s talk about one of the golden rules for enjoying our outdoor lesson adventures: wearing the right clothing for the cold!
Why is it so important?
When we’re warm and dry, we can focus on exploring, playing, and learning in nature.
Here’s a quick checklist to keep everyone safe and warm:
Base Layers: Thin, thermal tops and leggings are a game-changer! They trap heat without being bulky.
Mid Layers: long sleeve t-shirts, joggers, Fleece or woolly sweaters for extra coziness.
Outer Layers: Waterproof coats and pants to keep the wind and snow out.
Accessories: Hats, waterproof gloves, and thick socks are a must.
Footwear: Sturdy waterproof boots with good grip keep little explorers steady and dry.
Top Tip: Dress in layers—it’s easier to peel one off if we get too warm!
Nature is even more magical when we’re ready to embrace it
With Gratitude,
Tara Dzirbowicz
Outdoor Educator
Rockford Public Schools
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!
D.A.R.E
5th Grade celebrated graduation from D.A.R.E! Student were given a t-shirt and a certificate of completion. We are so grateful to Officer Pam!
Beyond the Rock News
Cannonsburg 4th and 5th grade students had the opportunity to be interviewed by Rockford High schools' news team for a segment Dr. Matthews is working on. The segment aired Monday, January 20th - You Tube Beyond the Rock!
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.
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.
wellness presentations
Managing Worry and Anxiety
The Pine Rest School Assistance Program, in partnership with Rockford Public Schools, is hosting a live stream presentation titled “Managing Worry and Anxiety” on February 3, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM via Microsoft Teams. This event will help participants learn how to distinguish between normal worry and anxiety versus conditions that may require treatment. It will also provide practical skills to limit the impact of worry and anxiety in daily life, along with strategies for adults to help children and adolescents navigate anxiety. To join, click the “Join the meeting now” link provided. For more information, contact Pine Rest at 800.442.0809 or email eap@pinerest.org. Additional resources are available at pinerest.org/eap. This presentation is brought to you by Pine Rest, Rockford Public Schools, and the Rockford Education Foundation.
Eating Disorders
"Eating Disorders: Hiding in Plain Sight," will be taking place on January 29th, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Rockford Public Schools Auditorium, located at 4100 Kroes Street NE, Rockford, MI 49341. The event is free to attend and offers 2.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for eligible participants. It is designed for professionals, students, parents, and other interested parties. The program includes several key presentations. Dr. Daniel Schellenberg, Medical Director at Forest View Hospital, and Hilary Fowler, MSN, PMHNP, CPNP, from Sanford Behavioral Health, will present on "The Hidden Medical Consequences of Eating Disorders." Anna Flores, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition from Authenticity Recovery, will discuss "Recognizing the Signs and Responding with Support." The event also features a panel discussion titled "From Diagnosis to Recovery: Real-Life Tools for Managing Eating Disorders," with panelists from Authenticity Recovery, Forest View Hospital, and Sanford Behavioral Health. Participants can register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by contacting Kelly Stone at kstone@sanfordhouse.com.
Cannonsburg Elementary PTC Updates
BREAKFAST WITH A BUDDY
Hello Cannonsburg families! Our annual "Breakfast with a Buddy" is coming up soon! Please mark your calendars for February 6 and 7 from 8am-8:30! If you would like to volunteer to help out with set up or during the event, please email the PTC at PTCburg@gmail.com! We are looking for around 5 volunteers for each day!
PTC Meeting 2/11/25
The PTC would like to offer a Virtual Option for the Meeting tonight. In the past there has been trouble with connectivity issues at the school. Please keep that in mind when trying to connect at home. If we are unable to connect, the minutes will be available later this week so everyone can be kept up to date!
During the meeting, please hold all questions until the end. We will try to save time to answer all questions, if we run out of time you can post your questions in the chat function, and we will provide answers in minutes.
Volunteering
For those interested in VOLUNTEERING at Cannonsburg Elementary School, remember to fill out the volunteer contact form and background check. This must be completed every year. Thank you for your support!
Meeting Dates for 2024-25 School Year
Join us during our quarterly meetings to stay up to date on events!
Art Room: 7pm - 8pm
- February 11, 2025
- April 15, 2025
Meet the Team!
- President: Liz Wardell
- Vice President: Audrey Sarantos
- Treasurer: Nicole Oeltjen
- Secretary: Wendy Hahn
- Trustee: Kara Leaver
We are here for you!
PTCBurg@gmail.com
reminders
Office Reminders
Student Absences
Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6344 or emailed to the front office - sweisman@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 Shelley or Nicole we need to know the following things:
- Student's name
- 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
Pick-Up Reminders
- Please put orange signs in the passenger dashboard
- Kindergarten parents park & line-up on the sidewalk near parking lot. Older siblings will walk down and cross with the Kindergarten students
- Call the office by 2:30 or email Nicole at ncurtis@rockfordschools.org if you have changes in the your after school arrangements
Label Everything
The fall weather will be approaching soon and students will be 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 hoodies, coats, water bottles, lunch boxes, etc. You can label the items with initials, just last name, full name, etc. Labeling items will ensure they will back it back home!
Health Room Information
Call the office for all illness related absences. Your students needs to be Fever Free (without medication) and stomach Illness (vomit) Free 24 hours before returning to school.
If your student is in need of medication during the school day, please refer to the attached link below. Nursing services has all the required documentation. A physician signature and parent signature are required for all distributed medications.
Medications Taken at School
All medication, including over the counter medication, must have a signed doctor's note in the office before office staff can give medication to your child.
If your child:
- Has an EpiPen we need a FARE - Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan filled out by the doctor.
- Has asthma we need an Asthma Action plan filled out by the doctor.
- Has seizures we need a seizure care plan filled out by the doctor.
Food service
Lunch IS FREE this year. Although lunches are free for the 24-25 school year, many services to students and funding, in general, derive from Free and Reduced Lunch applications. Please click on "Apply for Benefits" and complete it by the end of September.
If your child brings a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk only will cost $.55.
Lunch information can be found by clicking HERE. Our Food Service page has the Menu for the month, how to add money to your student's lunch account, and the application for Free and Reduced lunch.
ENROLLMENT OPENS 2/13/2025
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.
Daily Student Schedule
The Power of US
