Cannonsburg Newsletter
Cannonsburg Elementary
4894 Sturgis St., Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: (616) 863-6344
Fax: (616) 863-6357
Teya Cotter - Principal
tcotter@rockfordschools.org
important upcoming dates
- November 10- Mileage Club
- November 11- STEAM Night
- November 12- Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 1:30)
- November 14- Mileage Club
- November 18- PTC Meeting (7:00-8:00PM)
- November 19- Mileage Club
- November 21- Mileage Club/Popcorn Day
- November 25- Mileage Club
- November 26-28- Thanksgiving Break No School
STEAM Family Night Update
Mark your calendars! Our annual STEAM Night is coming up this Tuesday, November 11th from 5:30–7:30 PM at East Rockford Middle School. More details can be found on the attached flyer.
Our STEAM program is still collecting recyclable materials to support student projects. We are currently accepting cardboard tubes, egg cartons, plastic containers, cereal boxes, plastic water bottles, and corks.
Thank you for supporting our students as they explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math!
Elyse Anderson, Sara Brown, & Chris Pitsch
Winter Weather
Snow is coming, believe it or not! Please help us make sure our students are prepared for outdoor recess this winter.
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. Also, be sure to label EVERYTHING, pants, gloves, boots, hats, and jackets! If you need any 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 Nicole and Anne in the front office at 616.863.6344 if you need anything.
christmas helping hands
There are times in life when knowing people are thinking about you just makes things a little easier. Your Cannonsburg families would really like to share some love and resources with your family this holiday season. If you have a need for support in this season of life, please consider filling out this form by 11/10. All information will be kept strictly confidential. Helping Hands Sign-Up Form
PTc MEETING
The next PTC Meeting is November 18th at 7:00 PM in the Art Room.
pbis october winners
Student cell phones and smart watches
- Students with a cellphone may not use them during the school day, and they should be stored in the child’s backpack at all times.
- Please do not text or call your student on their device during the school day. Communication should go through the office.
- Students with smartwatches should have their device set to school mode, which disables distracting smartwatch features—like calls, messages, and games—while keeping essential safety tools active.
- Students should not be wearing earbuds or other noise-canceling headphones unless it is a documented accommodation.
Thank you for your help with this!
Mr.Banta reward-Kindergarten & 1st grade
Hello kindergarten and first grade parents, Mr. Banta is doing a reward challenge for any kindergartener or first grader that can demonstrate they can tie their own shoe. Below you will find a link to a video of Mr. Banta demonstrating how to tie his own shoes. If you come into school and show Mr. Banta that you can tie your shoe he will reward you with a prize. You do not have to use Mr. Banta's method if you have learned a different way that is absolutely fine.
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Research is pretty clear that hunger can harm student learning. Hungry students are not as engaged in the classroom, and can have difficulty concentrating and processing information effectively. Because of this, we are grateful to have free breakfast and lunch available for all of our students.
As you know, not everything on the school menu is a crowd-favorite. Because of this, we encourage families to preview the menus linked below each day and plan accordingly if what is being served for breakfast and lunch is not something your student will eat.
Hope College Family Math Fun
A free festival of engaging math activities for students grades K-8 and their caregivers. This event will take place on Thursday, November 20 6:00-7:30PM in the Bultman Great Room at Hope College. Scan the QR code for more information and to register. Every student registered will receive take-home math games!
ptc updates
All volunteering signups and PTC related information will be available in one place!
All volunteering signups and PTC related information will be available in one place!
Standard Response Protocol (SRP)
HB 4096, the Revised School Safety Code, has been introduced to provide common language for schools during emergencies. Here is an overview of the FIVE actions schools may take when addressing emergencies.
LOCKDOWN - The term "lockdown" should be used when there is an existing threat in or at a school building or a threat is expected to arrive in or at a school building imminently. Secure in a room, confirm the door is locked, and move to a place of cover away from the door and any windows.
SECURE MODE - Determined when a LOCKDOWN, as described, is not necessary, but heightened security and awareness are needed due to a potential EXTERNAL threat. Instruction continues in a normal manner, but access to the school building and movement within the building is highly restricted.
SHELTER - This is used when it is safer to be inside the building than outside. Common situations where this is used would be severe weather approaching or some type of hazardous materials incident in proximity to the school.
EVACUATION - Deals with the need to evacuate the building as it is no longer deemed safe to occupy for any variety of reasons, like fire, chemical spill, gas leak, etc.
HOLD - Hold is utilized when there is a need to have students and staff remain in their classrooms as staff address a concern or issue (medical, student in crisis) in a hallway or common area. Students are released when the office announces all clear.
For more information about our SRP resource, please visit the I Love You Guys website.
November Character Trait: Gratitude
Definition: The state of showing thankfulness and appreciation
Challenge: Write or share 3 things you’re thankful for every day this month, or write a thank you card to someone
Reflection: Gratitude changes everything
Hand 2 hand sign up form
This program offers nutritious food to students over weekends and on extended school breaks by churches, schools, individuals, and businesses that have joined together to provide hope and opportunity for our kids to thrive.
Please scan the QR code below to sign your student up to receive weekly meals.
Medication Drop-off
If your student(s) will need medication during the school day, please follow these instructions:
The medication forms can be found on the RPS website and are linked below. Please remember these documents must be signed by a parent AND their physician. Medication should be dropped off in its original container.
Attendance Procedures
If your student will be absent please call the office attendance line by 9:30am. Robo calls go out at 10:00am.
If you choose to email attendance notifications please include office staff & your student's teacher.
- Nicole Curtis - ncurtis@rockfordschools.org
- Anne Joles - ajoles@rockfordschools.org
Funds for friends
Come to Cannonsburg’s Fund$ for Friend$ Night Wednesday, October 29th…wait until 5pm though. If you can make it, bring your whole family and a copy of the attached. Once we reach 30 costumers, we “unlock” the restaurant for the evening 5-10pm (so if a family of five comes with one flyer that counts for 5 participants). If you can’t fit it in to eat out, what about takeout?! When you come to pick up your food, just show the flyer to the hostess (GrubHub & DoorDash will not count).
In years past, we have earned over $550 from our Cannonsburg participation! This money goes to the Cannonsburg PTC.
Bring the copy we sent home Friday or feel free to print off the copy from the attachment.
Volunteer Consent Forms
Volunteer Consent Forms must be completed every year, please complete your application now! This form must be on file in order to chaperone a field trip and/or volunteer at building events.
Transportation and busing
Transportation is encouraging RPS families to get the My Ride app on their phones. For more information on this, please click on links below.
My Ride K-12 App
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
Birthday treats and celebrations
- We look forward to celebrating our students’ birthdays and will honor each student with a shout-out on the announcement's birthday board, as well as special moments throughout the day with the classroom teacher and peers.
- RPS school policy is no food birthday treats. You are welcome to send in a book for the class or a non-food item, such as indoor recess game. We promise to make our birthday students feel special on their big days. Unfortunately, if food items are sent in they will not be able to be distributed.
- If your student is celebrating with classmates outside of school, please only send invitations to school when all classmates are included. This helps to avoid hurt feelings.
Thank you for your support with our Birthday Celebration procedures.
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!
free family assistance program
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).
Say “I have an SAP with Rockford Public Schools” when you call 800.442.0809 and press “1.” Every RPS student, staff and family member in your household is eligible for up to three free sessions. Additional SAP benefits include: free elder care consultation, legal and financial consultation, infant-feeding advice and real estate consultation. Anyone in the household can utilize these resources and it is 100% confidential. Access an online library with over 20,000 resources covering health, finances, legal topics and more. The code to login the library is RockfordPS.
Login Code: RockfordPS
RPS Student Device Managment
Students in RPS are afforded the opportunity to access and enhance some learning activities through district provided Chromebooks. Thanks to the support of the 2019 school bond proposal, RPS has been able to support the scheduled purchases of instructional technology for student use. Last year, elementary students received new devices, and this year all secondary Chromebooks are new. Thank you!
To preserve the quality of student devices as long as possible, we educate students about proper care and charge for repair when avoidable damage occurs. Like a textbook, each student is assigned a Chromebook and responsible for proper care. If a device is damaged or lost, a charge will be issued against the student's Family Access account. The charge will reflect Rockford Public Schools' cost to repair or replace the device. It is our hope that the layered approach of informing parents/guardians, educating students, and assigning fees when necessary, will assist to promote a decrease in the amount of overall damage to student devices and increased consistency of student accessibility to learning activities.
Should a student device be damaged, the initial fees are as follows: Chromebook:
• Broken Screen $30
• Broken Keyboard (missing keys, etc.) $30
• Damaged Chassis/Lost Device $200
• Power Supply (Lost or Not Returned) $15 iPads:
• Screen Repair $110
• Broken/Lost Device $299
During the summer of 2025 all devices were inspected to ensure that they are ready for distribution. School personnel will be diligent about communicating device care expectations to students and we ask that parents and guardians reinforce proper care expectations as well.
During the year if a device requires repair, a district technician will review the damage and decide if a charge is necessary. Normal scratches and wear are expected and will not incur a charge. Any fees assigned will generate an email notification to parents/guardians.
We appreciate your support in assisting your child(ren) to participate in the proper care of devices and if you have any questions or need further clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's school.
DISTRICT CALENDAR
2025-2026 district calendar
