Welcome to October, RES Families! Can you believe we are already almost a month into the school year? October has officially arrived, bringing cooler temperatures, crisp autumn air, and plenty of rainy days. But wait-it was almost 80 degrees today?!
Through every puddle and unpredictable weather, our amazing staff and students have shown just how remarkably flexible and creative they are. Whether moving recess indoors, adapting activities to shifting weather, or embracing new seasonal routines, our school community hasn't missed a beat. The enthusiasm in our hallways continues to shine brightly, and we have so many wonderful things to look forward to in the month ahead!
As always, a heartfelt thank you to all of our caregivers. Your partnership, support, and communication are what make the RES community so special.
Looking Ahead We are excited for all of the fantastic learning experiences, fall festivities, and community connections that October brings. Please keep an eye on your email and home folders for upcoming calendar reminders, event details, and volunteer opportunities. Thank you again for your continued partnership. We hope you and your family have a warm, relaxing, and wonderful weekend ahead!
Have a wonderful weekend! Amanda |
October 12th: No school-Indigenous People's Day October 13th: No school for students-All day Professional Development for Staff October 15th: SEPAC meeting-See Student Services section for more information - 5:30pm RES Library
- Childcare provided
October 26th: Gr 2-3 Field Trip |
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Ashley Woods is visiting Rockport Elementary School for a high-energy, interactive author visit. This session blends music, movement, and storytelling to make Spanish come alive. She will visit all grade levels. OCTOBER 6
To order signed books for your family, fill out
Many thanks to EFR for funding this Author visit! |
RES is pleased to offer a Fall session of before/after school activities. The classes will meet once per week for 6 weeks beginning the week of October 19th. Before school classes meet from 8-8:40am and after school classes meet from 3-4pm. Students will be brought to the RES lobby at 4pm to meet parents. Students will only be released to their parent/caregiver unless an email or note has been sent before hand to the instructor. Below are the descriptions of each of the activities. Sign up by completing the form below by Friday, October 16th. Please remember to send a note in with your child stating they will be attending an afterschool class. One note with all dates is fine. Please be aware there is no school nurse on duty during before/after school activities and transportation home is not provided for afterschool classes. Enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis. The class size is based on the type of activity. Once your sign up has been confirmed an invoice will be sent for payment. All payments must be received prior to the start of the class. Any questions email Nikole Gale, ngale@rpk12.org
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The Saving Makes Cents program offered by Cape Ann Savings Bank, is for students in grades 3-5, it makes learning to save money fun and rewarding! This non-competitive program encourages children to build smart savings habits while celebrating milestones along the way. Students discover the value of saving, setting goals, and taking pride in watching their savings grow. Today, student bankers participate in all Gloucester Public Elementary Schools, as well as the Rockport Elementary School and the Manchester Memorial Elementary School. Each school has dedicated Cape Ann Savings Bank employees who visit the elementary schools once per week to collect deposits, returning the students banking bags to the school the following business day. For questions regarding the Saving Makes Cents program, please reach out to the Bank’s program leader, Glenda Zink with Cape Ann Savings Bank at 978-283-0246..
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SEPAC: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 5:30pm-RES Library(Child care provided)
What is SEPAC? A SEPAC is a Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
Since 1986, every public school district in Massachusetts is required to establish a SEPAC. Massachusetts state law assigns both an advisory and participatory function to SEPACs. Membership is open to all district parents of children with disabilities (IEPs and 504 plans) and other interested parties.
SEPAC works with the Director of Student Services, School Committee, district leadership, and teachers to advise and promote a successful educational environment for our children.
SEPAC is dedicated to ensuring all children have equal access to educational opportunities in a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment. The Rockport SEPAC sponsors monthly meetings, family events, and presentations throughout the year. All events are open to the public.
What is SPECIAL EDUCATION? Special Education is a term used to describe services beyond the general classroom education and curriculum. It is implemented for students with qualified identified disabilities Types of disabilities include health, developmental, physical, sensory, intellectual, neurological, emotional, speech & communication, and specific learning disabilities. Special Education services and support vary and consist of specifically designed instruction.
Massachusetts law requires special education plans provide “free and appropriate public education” (FAPE) in the “least restrictive environment” (LRE).
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If your child will need a medication, inhaler, or Epi-Pen in school for the 2026-2027 school year, new forms are required to be filled out. The Medication Administration form, Authorization To Treat form, and Asthma Action Plan form (for inhalers) are all available under the Health Services link on the District website.
Please remember to turn in a copy of your child's latest annual physical and immunization record.
Thank you, Nurse Tara
If you have any questions or to report an illness, please call the RES health office at 978-546-1223. |
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Before school music contacts: Orchestra-Mr. Cohen, ncohen@rpk12.org Band-Ms. Weaver, dweaver@rpk12.org or Ms. Shaw-Reese, kshaw@rpk12.org Chorus-Ms. Shaw-Reese, kshaw@rpk12.org
Get more involved in music In addition to music classes during the school day, there are lots of avenues to take lessons, hear concerts, and participate in ensembles outside of school.
Gloucester Music Works is a brand new brick and mortar music school started by the Brace Cove Foundation on Maplewood Ave in Gloucester. They offer free lessons and instrument use to those in financial need. Their opening session of lessons starting in November is free to all! For future sessions, if you don’t qualify for assistance through them, reach out to music teacher Nathan Cohen at ncohen@rpk12.org and he may be able to help you get access to scholarship lessons there. See their info flier and map for more info or reach out directly at lessons@glostamusic.org, call them at 351-217-6599, or visit their website. Alexandra Grace Music Studio offers private instrumental and vocal lessons, group classes, and songwriting and recording workshops. They also offer internships. Located on Railroad Ave in Rockport, you can contact them at alexandra@alexandragracemusic.com, 978 879-7179, see their info flier or visit their website. Independent Instructors are available as well, either in home studios or after school at RPS. Speak to one of the music teachers at RPS for help finding an appropriate teacher. Ensemble Opportunities are available outside of RPS. Cape Ann Youth Chorus, which is open to students 8-18 years old, is directed by Thom Smoker and Kristina Martin and rehearses Monday afternoons at the Shalin Liu Center. Rockport Legion Band rehearses Thursday evenings and is directed by Logan LaRue. Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras meet Mondays and have multiple ensembles available to wind and string players at different ability levels. Live Music and Educational Opportunities abound through organizations like Rockport Music and Cape Ann Guitar Society. In addition to the world-class music that Rockport Music brings into RPS classrooms, students under 18 years old can receive free tickets to almost every concert at the Shalin Liu Center. Call the box office at 978 546 7391 and ask for free tickets! |
Rockport Public Schools STUDENT PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN SCHOOL (BELL-TO-BELL) Expectations & Procedures RSC Policy Language The Rockport Public Schools is committed to fostering a school environment that prioritizes engaged learning, supports the development of social skills, and promotes the overall well-being of our students. To achieve this, Rockport Public Schools is a student personal electronic device-free community. This means that, subject to the exceptions/accommodations outlined below, cell phones and other personal electronic devices are not accessible to students during school hours. Implementation of this policy may vary by grade level or school based on the expectations and procedures developed by the Superintendent or their designee.
Personal electronic devices (“devices” as used herein) are defined as any student/family owned electronic device utilized to access the internet, wi-fi, cellular telephone signals, or to capture or play images or video. These include, but are not limited to, smartphones, mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, smartglasses, gaming devices, and in some cases headphones and earbuds. The District reserves the right to classify additional devices as personal electronic devices.
Districtwide Common Expectations & Procedures - All students, with the exception of those with formal accommodations, will not be permitted to access their devices during the school day.
- If a student has a disability or medical condition that requires a cell phone or other personal electronic device, the accommodation will be noted in the student’s IEP, 504 Plan, health plan, or other District approved plan. The appropriate administrator or nurse will notify appropriate staff of the necessary accommodations.
- Parents/caregivers needing to reach their student during the school day should call the school’s main office. The school will ensure that all calls are answered or returned in a timely manner and that urgent messages are promptly relayed to the student.
- Students needing to contact a parent/caregiver/family member or other person(s) outside of school during the school day may do so with the permission of a school administrator. Each school’s main office will have a dedicated landline for students to make outgoing calls. In specific instances, the student may be permitted to use their personal electronic device.
RES Specific Expectations & Procedures - Students are not permitted to bring devices to school.
- If a student brings a device to school, they must turn it in at the main office upon arrival or upon realizing they have it. The device will be stored securely for the remainder of the school day and returned to the student at the end of the day. The student’s parents/caregivers will receive a call from the school requesting that personal devices be left at home in the future. Subsequent occurrences will require the parent/caregiver to pick up the device at school.
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School Safety Reminder: The school campus is closed to the public when school is in session and after 10:00pm nightly. This includes the use of the tennis courts, track, playgrounds, athletic fields and all other parts of the campus. This does not include families and community members attending events in our schools or on our school grounds. We appreciate the community's understanding and support as we continue to prioritize the safety of RPS staff and students. |
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Students should be dropped off at 8:45 am when they can proceed to their classrooms. Students can enjoy breakfast in the cafeteria beginning at 8:30 am. Students can enter the building at 8:00 am to attend any RES before-school programming. Music programs begin at 7:35 am.
RES Drop-Off Procedures Parents/guardians should drop students off in the “drop-off lane” located on the right, curbside, at the front of the elementary school. Pull your vehicle up as far as possible so other vehicles can join the drop-off line. Please pull over to the right and allow a staff member to assist your child exiting your vehicle. Stay to the right, as traffic may pass you in the left-hand lane. Please remain in your car when dropping off your child; there is no parking in the drop-off zone. When pulling away from the school, please look to your left; other cars may already be in the traveling lane.
RES Pick-Up Procedures Students who take the bus will be dismissed immediately at 3:00 pm. The buses will be in front of the school, please do not idle, park, or block the pick-up lane, as buses have the right of way at school dismissal time.
Students who are “walkers” who walk home or are being picked up at school will be dismissed at 3:03 pm from the following areas:
Kindergarten and Grade 1:East side doors (F3) near the RES gymnasium.
Grades 2 and 3:East side recess doors (F8) near the basketball court and the school playground, closest to the 2nd grade classrooms.
Grades 4 and 5:North side doors (H2) at the rear of the building, closest to the 5th grade classrooms. |
When visiting RES please park in the visitor spots(#'s 46-48) as you enter the lot from Ramsden Way or the visitor spots located outside of the Superintendent's office. We thank you for understanding. |
The Rockport Public Schools are excited to announce the launch of the Rockport Hall Of Fame! The Hall Of Fame currently showcases past yearbooks, student athletes, In The Loop editions and the performing arts. We will be working to expand the showcase throughout the year so check back often! Scan the QR code to be taken to the Hall of Fame. |
Rockport PTO Board Sarah Brown, Co-Chair Maria DiStefano, Co-Chair Gaby DeBenedictis, Membership Chair Katie Elwell, Fundraising Chair Kristine Ellingsen, Secretary Alyssa Teixeira, Treasurer
Don't have Venmo and want to donate? Send a check or cash to either school in an envelope marked PTO (checks payable to Rockport PTO) |
- Any elementary, middle, or high school positions that are open in Rockport Public Schools are posted here.
- Click here or scan our QR code to see all available positions.
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Click the links below to access the various resources:
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