Lissa Weidenfeller - Principal
lweidenfeller@rockfordschools.org
Jesús Santillan- Assistant Principal
jsantillan@rockfordschools.org
Jennifer Domagalski-Athletic Director/Student Activities
jdomagalski@rockfordschools.org
Address: 397 E Division Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6300
REMINDER: WINTER MAP GROWTH TESTING HAS STARTED!
Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep each night.
On the morning of the test, make sure your child has plenty of time to get ready and doesn't feel rushed.
Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast on the morning of the test.
Encourage them to try their best, even when they don't feel confident.
After the test, talk to your child about it and praise them for a job well done!
January 8th-9th: Science
January 10th: Make-ups
January 13th-14th: Reading
January 15th: Make-ups
January 16th-17th: Math
January 20th: NO SCHOOL
January 21st – 22nd: Language
January 23rd – 24th: Make-ups
Join us for a virtual Parent Advisory Council Meeting on Wednesday February 5th at 9:00am.
Join us for our upcoming Virtual Parent Advisory Council meeting. This gathering offers an invaluable opportunity for parents to connect, share experiences, and discuss key issues that impact our children’s education.
Meeting Details
Date: February 5th, 2025
Time: 9:00am
Platform: Google Meet Code
STUDENT DROP-OFF/PICK-UP PROCESS
If you choose to drop your child off and/or pick your child up from NRMS, you are required to use the Lincoln Street Entrance. This is the entrance used to access the student drop-off zone and athletic parking lot.
DROP-OFF TIME (ATHLETIC PARKING LOT)
7:10 am to 7:35 am
- Doors will open at 7:10 am
- Breakfast is available starting at 7:10 am
- Student hallways open at 7:25 am
- School starts at 7:40 am
PICK-UP TIME (ATHLETIC PARKING LOT)
- School dismisses at 2:30 pm
- Students should be picked up prior to 3:00 pm unless they are in athletics, attending a club, or with a teacher.
Cellphone or Watch Communications
Instructional time is for learning. With 1:1 computer access at school, cell phones no longer have a place in the classroom. Students are asked to leave phones (or similar devices) in their locked locker during instructional times.
Unless explicitly directed by a staff member, students are not permitted to use a phone (or similar device) during the instructional period. This policy extends to our hallways and common areas.
Parents/guardians who need to reach a student during an instructional period may call our main office at 616.863.6300 and we will ensure that the student receives the message. Thank you!
My Ride k-12
Transportation Update
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
attendance at nrms
Policy for picking up your student DURING the school day:
Please have your student come to the main office to pick up their pass when they arrive at school in the morning. A note stating the time they need to leave is helpful in case they forget the time they are leaving. This policy is to discourage calling into classrooms and interrupting teacher instruction. When you arrive to pick up your student please wait in the vestibule for them and sign them out on our sign out sheet.
If your student is sick or unable to attend school for the whole day please leave a message on our attendance line 616-863-6300 stating the reason for the absence. Please spell your students first and last name.
"Strive for less than 5"
Winter Weather is Here!
Weather Alert
Please listen to one of the listed media stations for notice of cancellations and/or delays:
- WOOD
- WOTV
- WLAV
- WGRD
- WMAX
- WZZM
Or visit the district website: https://www.rockfordschools.org
Be sure to tune in on icy or snowy mornings!
Lost & Found...Please Label Everything
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, water bottles, etc. You can label the item's with last name, full name, etc.
Athletics
Welcome Back FCA!
Coming Up - Winter Blast - January 12th from 2-4 pm at Magnify Church - Cereal Bar, Hot Cocoa, Fun & Games!
Here is the Winter Blast RSVP Link:
Counseling Corner
Mrs. Koops-Fikse and Mrs. Ohlman are here to support your child! If your child is in need of academic, social, or emotional support, please have them come to our office. We are also available by contacting (616) 863-6313.
NRMS Counselors
Last Names A - L: Karla Koops-Fikse
Last Names M-Z: Angie Olhman
NRMS Counseling Dog
Chillie
SRO Scoop
Welcome back!!
I hope you all had a restful break and a great start to the year!
If you don't know who I am, my name is Officer Pam Downing. I've been at NRMS since the 22-23 school year and have loved getting to know students and seeing them every day.
I teach DARE for our current 5th graders at RPS elementary schools. I am assigned to NRMS, River Valley Academy, Parkside Elementary, and Valley View Elementary. I work with staff, students, and families to support a culture of safety and security in our schools.
Should you have a safety concern or wish to speak to me directly, please don't hesitate to reach out! I can be reached by contacting the main office or by email at pdowning@rockford.mi.us. You may also call Rockford DPS Dispatch at 616-866-9557 to be put into my voicemail. 
Library Loop
Many students and staff participated in our optional Winter Break Reading Challenge! Prizes included books, gift cards to Epilogue Books, and posters. Watch for a spring break reading challenge in March/April.
CHROMEBOOK CARE:
We want to take a moment to remind you about Chromebook care. When we first issued devices to students years ago, we spent a lot of time reminding students of the ways to keep their Chromebook in good shape. Over time, we’ve gotten away from those reminders, but now that students are required to pay for damaged or lost devices, we want to remind you again:
- We recommend that students keep their device in a case when it’s not in your backpack. This provides extra protection in case of a drop.
- Please have your child always carry your device with two hands.
- Please remind your child not walk around the classroom or your home with your device open. Close the screen so you can carry it properly with two hands.
- Do not pop off keyboard keys as they will eventually not pop back on.
Do not touch another student’s device for any reason. You will be responsible for damage that results from an action you take, whether you meant to do the damage or not, so please be careful.
- Broken Screen $30
- Broken Keyboard (missing keys, etc.) $30
- Damaged chassis/lost device $200
- Charger $15
If you have any questions, please let us know. We appreciate your support!
Library FYI for families: If you receive a Thursday notification about lost or overdue book and have any questions, please encourage your student to come to the library and ask library staff OR login to their Destiny account in HelloID and see which books on their account need to be returned. If your family needs to pay for a book that was damaged or cannot be returned, your student should bring cash or a check (written to Rockford Public Schools) to the library. Library staff will update the student's account and print a receipt.
Student Spotlight
North Rockford Middle School Symphonic Band to Perform at the 2025 Michigan Music Conference
Rockford, MI — January 8, 2025 — The North Rockford Middle School (NRMS) Symphonic Band has been selected to perform at the highly esteemed 2025 Michigan Music Conference, scheduled for 8am on Friday, January 24, 2025, in the Steelcase Ballroom at DeVos Place (Grand Rapids, Michigan). This exciting performance provides a unique opportunity for the talented band students of NRMS to showcase their exceptional skills and passion for music on a state-level stage.
Directed by Cullen McCarthy, the NRMS Symphonic Band will present a carefully curated program featuring a mix of traditional band music and contemporary pieces, demonstrating their technical precision and artistry. The band’s inclusion in this prestigious conference is a testament to the students’ dedication, hard work, and the strong tradition of excellence in music education at Rockford Public Schools. 2025 marks the 6th time the North Rockford Symphonic Band has received the honor to perform at the Michigan Music Conference. They were selected in 2005, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2020.
Grasp
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 (SAP)
Enrollment opens 2/13/25
Helpful Links
