Belmont Newsletter
Belmont Elementary School
6097 Belmont Ave NE
Belmont, MI 49306
616.863.6362
Dear Belmont Families,
Wow! January sure did fly by! Next week, we welcome February with a focus on student engagement. RPS is committed to offering a guaranteed and viable curriculum (GVC) for all students while also finding ways to keep our students engaged in the learning process. Elevating student voice in the classroom is a priority as we empower and motivate our students to become lifelong learners.
This past week, we saw a lot of evidence that our students are engaged at Belmont! Student-led clubs resumed (more start next week), fifteen students took a risk and participated in our Belmont Spelling Bee (congrats to Natalie, our champ, and Alex, our runner-up), eight fifth-graders competed against other fifth-graders in the district in the Battle of the Books (making it to the Final Four), and our Mid-Year NWEA data shows strong growth and achievement.
We have a lot to celebrate at Belmont! Let's keep the momentum going, learning and growing together!
With gratitude,
Rachel DeKuiper, Principal
616.863.6362
Hand2Hand Fundraiser
Volunteer Form and field trips
Spring is Field Trip Season! If you are planning to attend or hope to attend a field trip with your student, please consider filling out the volunteer form linked below. Volunteers are asked to complete a volunteer form EVERY year when working with students individually or in small groups. This includes special events, game days, field trips, etc. Thank you!!
School Culture Survey - LAST Call!
Please complete our School Culture Survey linked below. We have extended the submission deadline to Thursday, February 12. Your feedback is necessary to move us forward and help us grow as a school community. Thank you!!
Winter Conference sign-up
Conferences are coming up quickly! All conferences will be held in person this year; however, you can certainly arrange a virtual or phone conference with your student's teacher if you prefer. There are THREE ways to schedule a conference:
Book a conference by going to schoolbookings.net and entering the event code: 2kegb
Or book a conference by clicking this link: https://www.schoolbookings.net/code/2kegb
Or book a conference by scanning this QR code:
*Please note that Mrs. Westveer has reached out to her families already about scheduling conferences next week. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding, as Mrs. Westveer will not be available for conferences on February 24 and 26.
Superintendent Sub for a day!
Winter Weather
Rumor has it that snowflakes may start flying on Sunday! With that said, we want to make sure our students are prepared for outdoor recess this winter.
- It's "Chilly" when the temperature is between 50 and 60 degrees. Students should have long sleeves and pants. Some students will also need a sweatshirt or coat to be comfortable. Shoes and socks are a must!
- It's "Cold" when the temperature is between 33 and 49 degrees. Most students will need layers on the top and bottom to stay warm. Students might also need a hat and gloves. If it's wet or snowy outside, then boots are recommended.
- It's "Extremely Cold" when the temperature is between 1 and 32 degrees. Multiple layers are needed when kids go outside. Boots must be worn outside. Students should have shoes for indoor wear.
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. 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 Holly and Katie in the front office at 616.863.6362 if you need anything.
winter gear - label everything
To avoid your student’s clothing from going into the lost and found, PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING!!! Label all coats, boots, mittens, hats, etc. Labeling items will ensure they will bring it back home!
ALL students should have a change of clothes in their lockers. We only have a few extra clothing items for students to borrow and bring back. We tend to run out as the year goes on.
Cannonsburg Ski Area Punch Cards
Cannonsburg’s punch cards offer DISCOUNTED LIFT tickets so that students in kindergarten through 12th grade can enjoy winter to the fullest. Punch cards also offer discounts on rentals and private lessons!
Punch cards can be purchased during office hours at Cannonsburg Ski Area. You can also purchase punch cards anytime online!
To purchase a punch card online, please follow the steps below:
- Go to the website link: https://cannonsburg.com/cart/
- Click on the C-flake icon for the type of punch card you would like to purchase.
- Fill out information, INCLUDING the sponsor and school name.
- Belmont's sponsors this year are Keith and Kristin Long. Thank you, Longs!
If you have any other questions, please email [email protected]
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run registration opened December 1st and will be available through December 11th - it will reopen on the 15th if there are still spots available. If you are interested, contact us! We can see if there are still spots available before the program starts.
Practices will begin in late February and run through mid-May, with our celebration 5K on May 16th at the GVSU campus. Practices take place on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:45 PM to 5:15 PM.
Your registration includes the full 10-week program, race entry, a program shirt, a medal, and a special end-of-season gift.
This year’s theme, Hello Bold Heart, focuses on building confidence and empowering girls to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. The program is open to girls in grades 3–5.
We have an amazing coaching team with two full-time and two part-time coaches, and we’re always excited to welcome more! Coaches complete a training course and a background check to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all participants.
To sign your daughter up, click here. We can’t wait to get started!
Contact Dana Green if you have any questions - [email protected]
Student Drop-off and pick-up reminders
We love seeing our students every morning and want them to enter and exit the school building safely.
Here are a few reminders for those who are dropping their children off in the morning:
- Please form a single line next to the sidewalk on the south side of the building and pull forward as far as possible (until the sidewalk ends).
- Please avoid large gaps between vehicles.
- Students may never exit the vehicle until it is completely off the main road and must exit on the sidewalk side.
- We will have staff present to help younger students out of their vehicles and guide them to the main entrance.
- Drivers should remain in the vehicle.
- If a driver needs to exit the vehicle, please park in the parking lot and help your student cross safely to the sidewalk.
- There are NO left turns out of the parking lot during morning drop-off.
The end-of-the-day pick-up line is quite a bit busier. We are doing our best to get your child to you as safely and efficiently as possible. Here are reminders for end-of-the-day pick up:
- Please form two lanes and pull ahead as far as you can (until the sidewalk ends).
- Please remain in your vehicle and have your child's last name displayed in the window.
- A safety officer will walk your student to their vehicle.
- Please avoid large gaps between vehicles. We are trying to avoid a long line of cars on the road.
- If you choose to exit your vehicle, please park in a parking spot.
- Vehicles should never be left unattended in the pick-up line.
- There are NO left turns out of the parking lot during afternoon pick-up.
Thank you for having your parent pick-up sign displayed in your window during pick-up. If you still need a sign, please call the office. Thanks!
Attendance/Illness Communication
Please contact the front office when your child will be absent, tardy, and/or picked up early by calling 616.863.6362. We appreciate you communicating directly with them so that they can let teachers know in real time.
When appropriate, please give us a brief description of why your student is absent (stomach flu, headache, respiratory infection, etc.). This allows us to respond to student/staff illness and do additional cleaning when necessary.
If you choose to send an email, please make sure you include both Holly and Katie in the front office. Their email addresses are [email protected] and [email protected]. Teachers don't always get a chance to check their emails during the school day, and we appreciate your help with this!
Transportation and busing
If you have questions about bus routes or times, please call the transportation office at 616-863-6328 or e-mail the director of transportation, Matt Puett, at [email protected].
Transportation is also encouraging RPS families to get the My Ride app on their phones. For more information on this, please click on the RPS Transportation link below.
Best Things We've Seen!
Belmont teachers and staff are using a bulletin board to recognize and celebrate, "The Best Things We've Seen This Month". Areas of emphasis include: Friendship, Kindness Squad, Readers, Spreading Smiles, Safe Choices, Motivated, Respectful, Sharing, Accountable, and Encouragement. If you visit our building, this positive board will be the first thing you see after walking through the vestibule. We've got great students and couldn't be prouder!
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!
Upcoming Events:
February 2 - Belmont Skating Party at Tarry Hall!
February 2 - Hand2Hand Fundraiser Begins
February 3 - Belmont Elementary Post Office is OPEN! (mail delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays)
February 4 - Early Release Day
February 4 - Mental Health Education Night (see flyer below)
February 9 - RPS School Board Meeting at the Administration Building at 6 pm
February 11 - PTO Meeting at 6:30 pm
February 12 - Valentine's Day Parties
February 12 - Hand2Hand Fundraiser Ends
February 13 and 16 - No School - Mid-Winter Break
February 20 - Popcorn Day
February 24 and 26 - Parent Teacher Conferences (in-person both nights)
February 24 - Belmont Night at the Vestal - Between 11 am and midnight, a portion of dine-in and take-out sales will be donated to our Belmont PTO. Just mention Belmont Elementary when ordering! Thanks!
February 26 - Belmont Elementary Post Office CLOSES! (Last-minute mailings will be delivered on 2/27)
Please SAVE THE DATE for our Spring Music Program
on Thursday, April 16! Thank You!
Spelling Bee Recognition
Congrats to Natalie, our school Spelling Bee Champ, and to Alex, our school Runner-Up! They competed against fourteen of their peers and did a great job! We couldn't be prouder of all the students who participated. Win or lose...life lessons were learned!
Battle of the books
Congrats to Mrs. Watkins and our Battle of the Books team made up of: Kai, Evie, Finley, Weston, Dylan, Callahan, Lennon, and Payton! They read ten books and gave up their lunches and recesses, all in an effort prepare for the competition. Our team made it to the Final Four and represented us so well! We sure are proud of them!
RPS School board meeting update
RPS School Board meetings will now begin at 6 pm. They are generally on the second Monday of each month, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday, February 9. To view past meeting minutes, review board packets, and/or learn more about how to participate, please click on the link below. Meetings are held at the Administration Building, 350 N. Main St.
Winter Weather Alerts
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!
Belmont PTO Update:
Our PTO will have their first meeting of 2026 on January 14. Please join us that evening at 6:30 pm in the Belmont library.
Our Belmont PTO has a new spirit wear vendor this year. You can order Belmont and Rockford gear year-round!
Belmont Elementary Spirit Wear Store
Please feel free to email [email protected] for additional information about any of our PTO happenings! For updates in real time, please follow the Belmont Elementary PTO on Facebook.
School Breakfast and lunch menus
As you know, not everything on the school menu is loved by all students. 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.
It's Time to Order your yearbook!
Please use the link below to place your yearbook order. Cost is $15. Thank you!
Student-Led Clubs at Belmont
Last year, we were able to elevate student leadership at Belmont with After-School Clubs. We are continuing the practice this year, but have made some adjustments to the process. We currently have over 12 clubs. We are encouraging kids to take responsibility for both club organization and participation. Clubs meet once a week for three to five weeks. Some clubs meet until 4:15 and others until 4:30. Please be sure to note the dates and end times when signing club permission slips for your child. For more information, encourage your child to visit the "Club Hub" bulletin board near the main entrance. Thank you!
PBIS and RAMS
As you know, Belmont is using a tiered system when supporting students both academically and behaviorally. PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) is the model we are using at Belmont to teach expectations and address behavior. At the start of the year, students were taught the schoolwide RAMS expectations (Respectful, Accountable, Motivated, and Safe). This past week, we reviewed our RAMS behavior expectations and reflected on current behavior data. Students brought home a booklet to share with families with strategies to help our students be the best RAMS they can be!
Additionally, students have completed two SEL units: Self-Awareness and Self-Management. The self-awareness unit focused on how our thoughts affect our feelings, and the self-management unit focused on how we respond to our thoughts and feelings. Students grew in their ability to manage emotions, navigate challenges, achieve goals, and maintain positive relationships.
Our current unit of study is Social Awareness. In this unit, students consider the perspectives of others and learn about empathy.
Rockford Action Model for Success (RAMS XII)
Last year RPS launched RAMS XII, a strategic plan for our Rockford Action Model for Success.
This fall, Belmont reviewed their goals from last year and chose two goals for this year. We are continuing to focus on Tiered Instruction (1.A.2) this school year and have added a Tiered Systems of Support (2.A.2). goal. You'll notice that both of these goals have an emphasis on "tiered" systems. We are building a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that overlaps and supports all students in every aspect of their school day.
For more information about RAMS XII or Belmont's FAST Goals, please click on the link below.
volunteer opportunities
We have several ongoing volunteer opportunities at Belmont Elementary! Please consider signing up for one of the following, but do not include the names of students when doing so. Thank you!
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 https://iloveuguys.org/ website.
Hand2hand - free weekend food for kids
We would like to offer your student the opportunity to participate in a program called Hand2Hand. This program helps provide a student with food for the weekends and is intended for families who currently may be experiencing a financial burden.
Here's how it works: At the end of each week, students who are signed up for Hand2Hand will receive a minimum of 10 food items in a bag. These food items will be a combination of breakfast, snacks, and lunch or dinner items.
There is no cost to participate! If you sign your student up to receive Hand2Hand, they will continue to receive the weekend bag of food each week throughout the school year. Bags will be discreetly delivered to your child at school.
If you feel like your child would benefit from this opportunity, please complete the form linked below. (You will need to complete one form for each of your children.) If there comes a point when you no longer need the assistance, alert your school office. It will take at least two weeks to receive your first bag. If you do not receive a bag, please contact your school office.
Hand2Hand Permission Slip
*Please note: if your student or another family member has food allergies, it will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to check the contents of the bag each week to ensure the food doesn't contain ingredients that could cause an allergic reaction.
School Assistance Program (SAP)
more sap information
Student device management and fees
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.
District Calendar Overview
Please contact our office at 616-863-6362 to obtain more information about our district calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.
