Bulldog Bulletin 

RES Bulldog Bulletin - February 2025

Welcome to the Bulldog Bulletin, our monthly newsletter that will communicate 

important dates, events, information, and tips!

Important Dates & Events:

Feb 26-Mar 7 - FunRun Fundraiser; $10K=Ms. White gets slimed, $15K=Mr. Dechant joins her!

Mar 3-7 - Read Across America Week; Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Mar 3 - Fun Sock Day

Mar 4 - “Read My Shirt” Day

Mar 5 - Fancy Nancy; Dress Your Best Day

Mar 6 - Pajama Day (Don’t forget your favorite book, too)

Mar 7 - Fun Run Day; Wear your Fun Run gear! 

Mar 9 - Daylight Savings Time Begins; Don’t forget to spring forward!

Mar 10-Apr 5 - Hillcats Reading Challenge (see info below)

Mar 11 - 5th Grade SOL Test - Integrated Reading and Writing

Mar 11 - Texas Roadhouse Night

Mar 12 - Spring Picture Day

Mar 25 - Jersey Mike’s Night

Mar 31 - PTO Meeting (6PM)

Apr 2 - Report Card Distribution

Apr 3 - Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day; RES has amazing instructional assistants!

Apr 4 - Spirit Day - Wear your favorite baseball gear!

Apr 4 - School Librarian Day; GIve thanks to Mrs. Lowman!

Apr 7-11 - National Assistant Principals’ Week; We appreciate Mr. Dechant!

Apr 9 - Pre-K Screening & Kindergarten Enrollment Day; Call to make an appointment!

Apr 10 - Bulldog’s Got Talent; Grades 3-5; 2:00PM (see below)

Apr 14-18 - Spring Break; No school

A Note from Administration:

Fun Run Fundraiser -

As of today, March 3, our amazing RES families have raised over $8000, which means we are more than halfway to our goal! Congratulations, Bulldog Nation!

Remember, if we raise $10,000, I (Ms. White) will get slimed!! Help us get to $15, 000, so Mr. Dechant gets slimed, too!!!

Pre-K Screening & Kindergarten Registration -

Guess what event is just around the corner?! Please mark your calendars for the highly anticipated Pre-K Screening and Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-26 school year, scheduled for Wednesday, April 9! Please begin preparing now for this event by locating your child’s birth certificate, scheduling his or her 4-year old physical (including immunizations), and collecting two proofs of residency (from March or April). Please have this information with you, as it is required for enrollment.

Parents of students who will be 4 years old by September 30, 2025 may call our front office to make an appointment on April 9 for their student to be screened by an RES Pre-K teacher. Pre-K enrollment is not automatic. In addition to completing the Pre-K screening and submitting the documents listed above, parents must complete a PK Survey that will be available on the CCPS website March 1 and also be prepared to verify income. If parents come with proper paperwork and have completed the survey, there is a good chance that parents can be notified of acceptance the day of screening! 

Parents of students who will be 5 years old by September 30, 2025 may also call the office to make an appointment for Kindergarten Registration. Please remember to bring the documents listed above (birth certificate, physical and immunization records, and two proofs of residency) with you on Registration Day. The enrollment form, which is also a requirement, will not be available on the CCPS website until March 1. Please make every effort to complete the online registration form by April 9. 

We are so excited to welcome our newest litter of RES Bulldog Pups!!

A Note from the School Counselor (Lisa Lowes):

Character Strong -

Rustburg Elementary school is implementing a program called Character Strong. Each month we will have a school-wide theme. This theme will be used in the classroom, on the playground, during classroom school-counseling lessons, and throughout your child’s school day. Please spend time talking to your child about the monthly theme and how he/she can incorporate this character trait at school, home, and in the community!

March’s Theme - Cooperation

Cooperation is working together to reach shared goals.

Family Life Classes -

On April 11th, Mrs. Lowes and Mr. Rice will teach the sensitive areas of the state-mandated Family Life curriculum to all students in grades 4-5 (the county has decided we will no longer teach this subject starting in 3rd Grade). Parents have the right to opt their children out of the classes any, or all, years it is taught.  In order to do this you must contact Mrs. Lowes, via email or phone call.  This must be done for each year you wish to have your child omitted from these classes. If you are not familiar with this curriculum, we encourage you to reach out to Mrs. Lowes to discuss and/or preview the lessons.

A Note from the Bulldog’s Got Talent Committee:

Bulldog’s Got Talent is planned for April 10th, the Thursday before Spring Break. Talent will be chosen exclusively through GRADES 3-5, but all grades and parents who have students participating are encouraged to attend the performance at 2:00pm. Student auditions will begin Tuesday, March 11th from 8:25-9:10. Depending on the number of applicants, we will determine the number of days we will hold auditions. Guidelines include: 1 act per student, this includes if they are in a group with their peers, permission slip for parents must be completed and turned in by 3/7 , there is a 2:00 minute time limit per act, and if music is involved it must be approved by the talent show committee.Students approved for the talent show will need to attend rehearsals from 8:25-9:10 a.m. If your child wants to audition, please make sure they communicate with their teacher so they can sign up, and you fill out that you give them permission to participate. Thank you for your support in this exciting event!

Title I Team (Krista Miller & Kristin Williams): 

It’s that time again!! Starting March 10th, we have another reading challenge, but this time we went even bigger for the prize! 

If your RES student completes the challenge from March 10-April 5, they will receive a free ticket to see the Hillcats play baseball on April 26th.

April 26th will be Rustburg Elementary night at The Hillcats. Students will be able to walk the field in a parade that same night right before the game starts!

Also, families will be able to buy discounted tickets!

Look for your Hillcats Reading Challenge packet in your child’s backpack/Monday folder on March 10 for more information.  

We can’t wait to see all the reading you’ve done!

A Note from the Attendance Team:

For any absence, please Dojo or email your child’s teacher. This must be communicated within 48 hours to excuse an absence. If your student has an appointment, please send in the note from the physician's office. Any attendance questions or concerns please contact Robin Elliott. 434-332-5215 or relliott@campbell.k12.va.us 

·After 3 unexcused absences, a letter will be sent home, requesting notes to be sent to school, explaining the reason for any future absences.      

·After 5 unexcused absences, a letter will be sent home, requesting a parent conference.  A conference form will be completed and kept on file.     

·After 10 total absences, excused and/or unexcused, a doctor’s note will be required for any additional absences.      

Research shows that good school attendance has a positive impact on children’s academic success.   Please be mindful of the number of late arrivals and early dismissals your child accrues… every minute counts!

A Note from the Library/Media Specialist

Thanks for making the Book Fair a success! We have already purchased several new books

that the students have recommended! Remember, we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday

with Read Across America Week March 3-7, 2025. What a great time to enjoy those book fair

books.

Library Tips -

Returning Books: Remember to bring back your books on time to make sure other

students can enjoy them too!

Book Recommendations: If you’re looking for a great read, come and ask us! We love

helping you find your next favorite book.

Love, Mrs. Lowman and Ms. Reid

A Note from our School Resource Officer (Ciarra Joyner):

Dear Parents and Guardians: Thank you for welcoming me as the School Resource Officer at RES. I am having the best time getting to know your little ones! 

As you know, I am outside for the arrival and dismissal of car riders each day. As the SRO, my sole purpose of being present is to protect your children and the staff of RES. Recently, I have been made aware of some safety issues in the car rider line, especially during dismissal. I am sharing some tips with you, in an effort to alleviate these problems. Please know that if and when I am taken away from campus to direct traffic, I am not able to adequately focus on those I am charged with protecting. 

1. Please be patient! Everyone in line is there to safely collect their children from school, and the faculty and staff members are present to assist with this process.

2. When lining up, please park as close to the car in front of you as you can. I know this can be uncomfortable to do, but it allows us to get as many cars out of Village Highway as possible.

3. If you cannot see past a car in line DO NOT GO! Instead, wait until the line moves up so that you can properly see what is ahead. 

4. For those coming from Gladys and turning right into the school: If the line is full and you see that the cars are lined up at the start of the intersection at Village Highway and Webbs Way, DO NOT try to squeeze onto Webbs Way, partially blocking Village Highway. Please leave a car length of space so that those who are trying to leave the school can properly see and safely exit. If it is not possible to leave a car length of space, you must continue past the school, turn around when it is safe to do so, and line up in the center lane to turn left. Remember that it is illegal to stop on Village Highway, blocking traffic behind you, to wait to turn right onto Webbs Way.

5. For those coming from the Village and turning left into the school: If the line is full and you see that the cars are lined up at the start of the intersection at Village Highway and Webbs Way , please wait in the left turn lane until there is adequate room for your car. DO NOT squeeze in line, partially blocking Village Highway, as this causes hazards and the potential for accidents.

6. Please keep in mind that on days when a bus is not running, there will be more traffic in the car rider line. 

7. And remember, if I am having to direct traffic or being taken away because of a preventable accident, I am unable to do my job as an SRO in keeping your children and our staff safe. 

Thank you for your assistance!