Weekly Community Update
URGENT - A BUS CHAPERONE IS NEEDED FOR THIS MONDAY’S AFTERNOON ROUTE IF NO ONE CHAPERONES, THEN STUDENTS WILL NEED TO BE PICKED UP AFTER SCHOOL, AS THERE WILL BE NO BUS SERVICE! IF YOU CAN CHAPERONE, PLEASE GO TO THE Bus Chaperone Sign-up Sheet
Dear RWCS Community,
Our first trip of the year wrapped up with the return of our 6th-8th graders from their adventure up Columbine Canyon! The 3rd - 5th graders depart on their trip on Tuesday, with a gear check on Monday. I have some good news to report on the portable classroom project. The buildings were fully set this past weekend! That allowed for the rest of the project to resume. Then, early this week, both buildings had power run to them, and after sitting idle for more than 12 years, there were lights! Now, the rest of the exterior work of phase II can be completed. Phase III will then begin, which will be the remodel of the interiors.
ALL Bus Riding Families, PLEASE READ - Blue Bus Service
The RTD, the Blue Bus, is a rural public transportation system for northern New Mexico.
RWCS has a working relationship that allows our students to ride this free transportation system publicly. The Blue Bus IS NOT a school bus, and RWCS has NO control over the Bus. RTD Blue Bus sets its policies and procedures. One of the Blue Bus requirements is that RWCS provides a bus chaperone for both the morning and afternoon routes. If a RWCS Bus Chaperone is not on the bus, then STUDENTS MAY NOT RIDE THE BUS.
Families will be required to provide transportation for their students to school. No bus service is NOT an excuse for absence from school. The RTD Blus Bus can deny service to any individual or group, so if families want this service to continue, PLEASE make sure your child follows the rules. I did receive a message from the Blue Bus folks. There have been some safety concerns to start the year, which include students standing on seats, moving around when the bus is moving, getting off the bus and running across parking lots without looking for traffic, loud voices or yelling on the bus, and not respecting directives from the chaperones or drivers. Please review the RTD Bus Policies and Student Conduct with your student. Please let the office know if you need a printed copy; we will send one home.
Trip Dates, Paperwork, and Fees
Class trips are a unique RWCS program component tied to our curriculum and charter.
They are designed to work on group dynamics, character building, personal growth, and outdoor skills. Attending the school requires participating in these trips. Besides personal items, RWCS has all the required gear that students can borrow for the trip.
3rd - 5th Grade - August 27th - 30th. Fees: $80
K - 2nd Grade - September 11th - 13th. Fees: $60
All families should have received a trip packet for the fall; if not, please contact your child's classroom teacher. If trip fees are a financial burden, please contact Marina at office.manager@rwcs.org. Parents requesting financial aid must have submitted their Free and Reduced Lunch form.
Bus Chaperones are NEEDED for 24-25 SY!!
We need bus chaperones for the 24-25 school year. The bus will NOT take any students if no adult chaperone is on the bus. Please help keep this free service for our students. We could use help for as much or as little as you can give. You can chaperone on the morning ride to school (7:40 am-10:20 am), the afternoon ride from school (2:00 pm-4:40 pm), or both. It can be a paid position if you can commit to riding regularly. PLEASE contact the school at 575 586-2076 or email Alice Allen at aallen@rwcs.org.
If you can commit to chaperoning, here is the link to sign up for specific days.
Harvest Fest - Saturday, October 19th - Required School Day
RWCS is in the planning stages for its annual Harvest Fest on Saturday, October 19th.
The Harvest Fest is our annual fundraising event, and the proceeds will go to our Class Trip Program. We need community support to help plan and support this event. Andrea Griffin (agriffin.gc@rwcs.org) and Odalys Diaz (odiaz.gc@rwcs.org), both parents and
RWCS Board members, are heading up the organizing committee. If you can help, please contact them for more details.
School Picture Day - Wednesday, October 2nd
Once again, Southern Exposure Photography will be taking our school pictures. As we approach the date, we will send out more information on how to order from them. Southern Exposure will handle all orders online, and you will receive information directly from them.
Governing Council Meetings and Recruiting New Members
The Regular GC Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20th, at 5:30 pm. ALL G.C. Meeting Agendas with the Google Meet link are posted on the school website 72 hours before the meeting. All are welcome to attend. We seek new board members to help and serve on the RWCS Governance Council. If interested, please contact Jon Orris, Director, at jorris@rwcs.org.
As always, thank you for all your support and for trusting us with your children's education! We are looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Sincerely,
Jon Orris, Director
