Rock River Charter School

What’s Rockin’ at RRCS?

December, 2019

Rock River Charter School assists students academically, socially, and emotionally in a safe supportive learning environment while guiding them on their journey to becoming successful adults of good character.

COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR

The success of Rock River Charter School relies on parents/ guardians, students and staff working together, which means communicating on a regular basis.  Charter staff has set the goal of contacting parents/guardians monthly.  For this to occur, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to update and maintain a phone number and address where Rock River Charter School can reach families.  If homes have caller ID or Call Manager, it is a requirement of Rock River Charter School that the calls be accepted. Feel free to ask the front desk for help if you need help updating information.

Short Fridays

December 6, 2019

Important Dates in December

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  December 3, 2019      BTC Visit for RRCS Students

• December 6, 2019      Career Fair

  December 9, 2019     Block 2 attendance Awards

  December 11, 2019   PREP schedule For Alt Ed

  December 12, 2019   Cooking Club

  December 20, 2019   Winter Break Movie Event

  December 23 - January 1, 2020    Winter Break

Moving?

If you will be moving from your current home address please contact Rock River Charter School office at 608-752-8273 as soon as possible to determine what paperwork you will need to fill out for your child to continue attending his/her current school.  Please note: if you are moving to an address outside the School District of Janesville in most cases your child is eligible to continue attending the School District of Janesville as long as you complete the appropriate paperwork within the required timeline.

If you have any questions about school placement for a particular address please contact Open Enrollment Specialist Deen Hartley at 743-5152.  The New Student Enrollment Office is open year round.

If you are the parent of an elementary student and will be moving over the summer months when the elementary schools are closed, please contact Open Enrollment Specialist Deen Hartley at 743-5152 or the New Student Enrollment Office at 743-5072 or 743-5153 to complete the appropriate paperwork.

Public School Open Enrollment Timelines

The State of Wisconsin has announced the application period for open enrollment (also known as public school choice) begins in February for the following school year.  Open Enrollment laws permit children to attend a public school in a school district other than the one in which they live. 

The open enrollment application period for the 2020-2021 school year is from February 3, 2020 – April 30, 2020.  Parents are encouraged to apply on-line at dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment.  Although on-line application is recommended, paper applications may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction or any school district after February 3, 2020 and must be delivered (hand-delivery is recommended) to the nonresident school district during the application period. Paper applications to attend Janesville must be submitted to the Open Enrollment Specialist in the New Student Enrollment Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 30th (a postmark does not constitute timely submission).  Applications turned in prior to February 3rd will be returned as not valid and must be resubmitted after February 3rd but before April 30th at 4:00 p.m.

Enrollment in a requested school or program is subject to space and other limitations and is not guaranteed. Transportation is the responsibility of the parent. Habitual truancy may result in recommendation for the student to return to their home district.

Under School District of Janesville board policy, students who attended the district under open enrollment the previous year are not required to reapply for the following school year.

An application is required for each sibling in the family.  For example, if a family has one child in elementary school that has been approved for open enrollment and a new student entering kindergarten next year, the student entering kindergarten must apply for open enrollment in order to attend the School District of Janesville.

Parents will be informed in June whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied.  The student’s school or program placement will be provided in June.

If you have questions, please contact the Open Enrollment Specialist at 743-5152.  

 

BULLYING PREVENTION

The School District of Janesville Board of Education strives to provide an educational environment where every student feels safe, respected and welcomed.  The Board also strives to provide an educational environment where every staff member can serve students in an atmosphere that is free from significant disruptions and obstacles that impede learning and performance. Bullying can have harmful social, physical, psychological and/or academic effects for those who engage in these behaviors, victims of such behaviors, and bystanders who observe acts of bullying.  The District prohibits any form of bullying behavior by students towards other students, school employees, volunteers, or any other person(s).

Bullying includes aggressive or hostile behavior that is intentional and involves an imbalance of power between the bully and the bullied. Bullying is a form of victimization and is not necessarily a result of or part of an on-going conflict. Bullying is defined as any conscious, willful, or deliberate acts, or attempted acts, through the use of words, images, gestures or other physical actions, including electronically transmitted acts, that are intended to cause physical injury, emotional distress or property damage. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, behaviors motivated by an actual or perceived distinguishing characteristic or factor including sex, race, national origin, ancestry, religion, color, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.  Bullying may also be motivated by any other distinguishing factor such as gender identity, physical appearance, or social, economic or family status.

Examples of acts of bullying include physical intimidation, force or assault, humiliation, sexual or racist remarks, extortion, verbal or written threats, taunting, put downs, name calling, threatening or menacing looks or gestures, spreading cruel rumors, and social exclusion.  This includes acts of cyber-bullying that involve sending or posting inappropriate, insulting or threatening messages or images through electronic communication systems such as the Internet, email, cell phones or other personal devices.

Bullying is prohibited on District grounds, at District-related activities, or on transportation to and from school or District-sponsored activities. Harassing bullying behavior is prohibited in all educational environments, regardless of whether the facility or location is owned, leased, or otherwise used or provided by the District. 

Acts of bullying that originate off school premises and outside of the school’s control may be subject to the provisions of this policy and related procedures if the conduct is determined to be substantially disruptive to the educational process and the day-to-day operations of a school.  This includes, but is not limited to, threats made outside of school hours that communicate intent to be carried out during any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity, or on any vehicles used for transportation to and from school and school-sponsored activities.

All complaints about bullying shall be promptly investigated. The District shall respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as practicable and in a manner consistent with the Board’s legal obligations to investigate, take appropriate action, and conform to discovery or disclosure requirements. Disclosure of information related to the complaint shall be made only to those with a legitimate need to know.  All records generated as a result of the complaint and appeal processes shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

If the investigation finds bullying has occurred, school officials shall take prompt and necessary action up to and including behavioral interventions and support, disciplinary action, and/or referral to law enforcement officials or social services.  Consequences shall be unique to the nature of the behavior, the developmental level of the student, and the history of problem behaviors. Remedial measures shall be designed to correct the problem behavior, prevent other occurrences, and protect the victim.

The District shall also take appropriate action against any student or District employee who retaliates against any person who makes a good-faith report of alleged bullying or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation or hearing related to such behavior.

Employees found to have facilitated or participated in bullying behavior against students or to have been aware that bullying was taking place and failed to report the behavior are considered to be in violation of the prohibition expressed by this policy and may be subject to disciplinary action.

 

Bullying Report Form

 

Administrative Regulation 5030.2 School District of Janesville BULLYING INCIDENT REPORT 

Use this form to report bullying incidents. The form may be used by school and police officials when investigating this or other related incidents. 

Special Note: If you think that the incident was motivated by a protected factor under state or federal nondiscrimination laws, report the incident using the “Student Discrimination Incident Report Form 5020.” If you are not sure, talk to a Principal of another staff member. School: _________________________________ Date of Complaint: __________________ 

Report Made By: _________________________________ Gender: ___ Female ___ Male 

Subject of Bullying (if different than the reporter) 

Home Address of Person Bullied: 

Name/s of Accused: 

Date of Incident: __________________________ Hour: _________ am / pm 

Exact location/s of Incident: 

School building School grounds To or from school Home Elsewhere: 

Check those that apply: 

__Physical 

__ Cyber-Bullying 

__ Verbal 

__ Non-Verbal/Emotional 

__Hazing 

__ Bullying by Proxy (when someone engages in such behavior through another person or on behalf of another person) 

Please describe in detail exactly what occurred, anyone who was involved, possible witnesses. Details are very important. 

Continue report on the back 

I certify that all statements made above are true to the best of my knowledge. I understand that if I falsify this document, I can be held subject to consequences at school and by legal authorities (if applicable). 

Signature of Student: Date: 

Signature of Reporter (if not the student): Date: 

Signature of School Administrator: Date: 

As a result of the investigation, this report of bullying was: ___ Substantiated ___ Unsubstantiated 

Please forward a copy of this form and any correspondence to the family immediately to the Director of Student Services.

Board of Education Janesville, Wisconsin 2009; 2011, July 2013