🏆 We Are ALL IN! 🏆

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! This is the first message of the school year, and it is quite lengthy. Please read carefully. Each week, I will send out messages containing important information so make sure that your contact information is up to date in the office. This information is also available in our Ray-Diant News family facing newsletter found at this link https://app.smore.com/n/z8wd75

As we begin another exciting year, I want to thank each of you for your continued support of Rodgers Middle Magnet School. The energy, excitement, and commitment we have already witnessed from our families, staff, and students makes it clear that this is going to be an incredible year.

Our theme this year is ALL IN.

Being ALL IN means showing up every day, giving our best effort, supporting one another, and refusing to quit on our students or each other. It means being committed to excellence, embracing challenges, and believing that every student can achieve great things. It means working together as one team, one family, and one Stingray community.

Last year, Rodgers came within 2 percentage points of earning a B school grade. We are proud of the tremendous gains our students and staff made, but we are not done yet. We know what our students are capable of, and this is the year we show our community, our district, and the world exactly what Rodgers can do when we are ALL IN.

The momentum is already building. Our recent Open House had the highest family attendance in recent history, and our newly formed PTSA generously distributed more than 200 backpacks to support our students. These accomplishments are a testament to the incredible partnership between our school and families.

Our teachers are ready.

Our students are ready.

Our families are engaged.

Now it's time to shine.

As we prepare for the first day of school, please review the important operational changes that will help ensure a smooth and safe start to the year.

📍 New Front Office Location

Our new Front Office is now located near the bike rack entrance.

Please note:

-Visitors must enter through the new Front Office entrance.

-The entrance near the former Front Office is now designated as an employee-only entrance.

-Signage has been installed to direct visitors appropriately.

-A designated visitor parking area is available near the new Front Office.

-Visitors should not park in faculty-designated parking spaces.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and organized campus.

🚗 Morning Arrival Procedures

The car line gate opens at 9:15 AM and closes at 9:30 AM.

To keep traffic flowing safely:

-Pull all the way forward to the designated student drop-off area.

-Follow directions from staff members on duty.

-Vehicles may not stop early to unload students.

-Vehicles may not drive around other cars that are actively unloading.

Safety is our top priority, and your cooperation is appreciated.

⏰ Tardy Procedures

Students arriving after 9:30 AM must report to the new Front Office for check-in with Ms. Weeks, our Front Office Secretary.

Students arriving after 9:45 AM must be signed in by a parent or guardian.

If a student arrives without an adult after 9:45 AM:

-A parent or guardian will be contacted.

-The occurrence will be documented.

These procedures help ensure we always know where our students are and maintain a safe and secure campus.

🥣 Breakfast in the Classroom Begins Day One

This year, our faculty voted to implement a Breakfast in the Classroom model. This approach allows students to begin their day in a calm, structured environment while maximizing instructional time and strengthening classroom community.

For Car Riders, Walkers, Bike Riders, and Scooter Riders

Students who would like school breakfast will:

-Enter through the designated cafeteria entrance by the car line.

-Receive breakfast.

-Proceed directly to their homeroom/first period classroom (or designated breakfast location for certain elective classes).

-Eat breakfast with their classmates.

For Bus Riders

Students who would like school breakfast will:

-Receive breakfast from the serving windows outside the cafeteria.

-Proceed directly to homeroom after getting breakfast.

Students who do not wish to receive school breakfast must report directly to their homeroom upon entering campus, regardless of how they arrive at school. This includes students arriving by car, bus, walking, bicycle, scooter, or any other mode of transportation.

Important Reminder:

There should be no loitering anywhere on campus during arrival. Students are expected to proceed directly to their assigned location.

In addition, all members of our Student Services Team will be available throughout the breakfast period to greet students, conduct check-ins, and provide support as needed. Because Student Services staff will be actively monitoring and connecting with students across campus, students should not report to Student Affairs upon arrival to school unless they have been specifically directed to do so by a staff member.

Our goal is to ensure that every student starts the day feeling welcomed, connected, and ready to learn.

🍎 Classes Eating Breakfast in the Cafeteria

The following classes will eat breakfast in the cafeteria:

Physical Education

Coach Jackson

Tables 1 & 2

Coach McQuinn

Tables 3 & 4

Music

Mr. Shultz

Tables 8 & 9

Mr. Nieves

Tables 10 & 11

Access Classes

Tables 13-15

Students will be escorted by staff.

Students assigned to these classes who choose not to eat school breakfast must still report to the cafeteria and sit with their assigned teacher.

📱 Check Schedules Through FOCUS

All families are expected to use the FOCUS Parent Portal to access student schedules before the first day of school.

Reviewing schedules ahead of time will help reduce confusion and ensure students begin the year confidently.

Students Who Need Assistance

-Staff members throughout campus will have alphabetical homeroom locator lists to help students find their first-period class.

-Newly enrolled students whose names do not appear on the locator will report directly to the Media Center for assistance.

Safety Update:

🛴 Electric Scooters and E-Bikes

As a reminder, information regarding electric scooters and electric bicycles was shared with families over the summer. To ensure the safety of all students and staff, the following expectations will be strictly enforced:

All electric scooters and bicycles must be parked in the designated bike rack area.

-Electric scooters and bicycles may not be stored inside classrooms, offices, hallways, or other school facilities.

-Charging electric scooters or bicycles on campus is not permitted. This includes charging devices in classrooms, offices, common areas, or using school electrical outlets.

-Charging personal transportation devices on campus is considered a safety violation and will not be permitted.

For students who ride an electric bicycle:

-The bicycle must be powered off by the time the student reaches the school marquee/front entrance area.

-Students must walk their electric bicycle from that point to the designated bike rack area.

-Riders should not operate electric bicycles on sidewalks, walkways, or other pedestrian areas of campus.

These procedures help us maintain a safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors.

Please discuss this process with your child before the first day of school.

🚨 First-Day Reminders for Families

To help ensure a smooth opening of school:

✅ Check your student's schedule in FOCUS before the first day.

✅ Review arrival and breakfast procedures with your student.

✅ Remind your student that if they want breakfast, they should get it immediately upon arrival and report directly to their assigned location.

✅ If they do not want breakfast, they should report directly to homeroom.

✅ Remind students that there is no loitering during arrival.

✅ Review electric scooter and e-bike expectations before the first day of school.

Together, we can ensure a safe, organized, and successful start to an incredible year at Rodgers Middle Magnet School.

📝 Updated Student Schedules

Please note that schedules distributed at Open House on white paper will not be valid after homeroom on Day 1.

-During the first few days of school, we will be making adjustments to ensure class sizes and placements best meet student needs.

-All students will receive a new schedule printed on light green paper on Day 1.

-Students should use their green schedule as their official schedule moving forward.

💙 Together, We Are ALL IN

Rodgers families, we are grateful for your partnership and support. The success of our students depends on all of us working together.

As we begin this school year, let's commit to being ALL IN for our students, our school, and our future. Last year showed us how close we are to greatness. This year, we will continue building on that momentum and demonstrate what the Rodgers Stingray family is fully capable of achieving.

We cannot wait to welcome our students back to campus.

Let's make this our best year yet!

ALL IN. ALL TOGETHER. ALL FOR OUR STUDENTS.

With Stingray Pride,

Miriam Duran

Principal💙🖤🤍