February 2nd is the 100th Day of School, and our Rockets are celebrating with a challenge that counts! 💥 Each grade level is on a mission to collect 100 non-perishable food items to support Operation Backpack, a program that provides weekend food to children in our community.

👀 Kindergarten has issued the challenge—can the other grades rise to the occasion? On the 100th day, Kindergarten classes will count each grade level’s donations (math + kindness = win!). SHARE Club will help sort and pack all donations for delivery.

Let’s prove Rocket Pride can count past 100! 🔥
Ready… set… DONATE! 🚀💙

This past week started off a little chilly with school canceled on Monday and Tuesday due to the snowstorm. We hope our families enjoyed some extra time together... playing in the snow, staying warm, and knocking out those AMI packets. If those packets haven’t made it back yet, please be sure they’re turned in tomorrow, 2/2/26.

Even with a shortened week, Rock Creek jumped right back into learning and ended things with a BIG finish on Friday night... TRIVIA NIGHT! 🎉 With 26 tables participating, the energy was high and the fun was nonstop. It was truly a family fun night to remember!

A HUGE thank you to STUCO and PPI, along with their amazing sponsors, Ms. Cumbie, Mrs. Higgins, and Mrs. Soller, for making this event happen. Shout-out to the staff who helped set up, our outstanding student leaders during the event, and our trivia scoring pros... Ms. Black, Mrs. Dreyer, and Ms. Nolte. And a special thanks to Mrs. Earley for helping create the trivia questions!

Short week? Yes.
Great week? Absolutely.

Thanks for being such an awesome Rock Creek community!

• Bring in Non-Perishable Items BY February 2nd for the 100th Day Food Drive!  Which grade will win!?! 
• Participate in the Kids Heart Challenge!  Will Rock Creek win this year?!  Join Coach Sissom for the fun!  DEADLINE to DONATE is FRIDAY, February 6th.  More information below...  
• Early Release Day this Wednesday 2/4/26 at 1:10pm.  Make sure you to call into the office by 10am with any transportation changes on Wednesday 2/4/26. 
• Please follow any specific teacher guidance of a Valentine's Day Card Exchange.  A reminder that no candy or food can be exchanged and we do not have parties for this.   
• See below for the Rock Creek Class Placement Input – Parent/Guardian Survey with a deadline of February 27th.  This is not required, but is your option to provide any information prior to our classroom placement process for the 26-27 school year.  
• Yearbooks are on SALE...  See how to purchase online BELOW.... 

Rock Creek Elementary is thrilled to be part of the Kids Heart Challenge Lifesavers League through the American Heart Association! This school-wide event helps students learn life-saving skills, build healthy habits, and support a cause that truly matters.

🎯 Our Big Goal:
If 200 students sign up, we earn $500 in FREE PE equipment for our school. Let’s make it happen, Rock Creek!

📱 How to Participate:
Families can join our online league by clicking the link below, downloading the Kids Heart Challenge app, or scanning the QR code.
👉 Sign up here: http://www2.heart.org/goto/rockcreek.fz
⏰ All donations are made online
📅 Donations are due by February 6

🎉 Awesome Student Incentives (St. Louis Metro):
*Complete Finn’s Mission and earn a pass to Urban Air plus a Victor collector keychain
*Raise $50 and receive 1 ticket to the St. Louis Ambush game on March 27
*Raise $100 and earn a pass to Sky Zone

💪 Why Families Love Finn’s Mission:
✔ Learn life-saving skills together
✔ Earn fun rewards
✔ Promote healthy habits
✔ Support heart health and education

💙 Rock Creek Students Need YOU!
Your participation helps our school, our students, and a great cause. Let’s join together, have fun, and show some Rock Creek heart!

Capture the memories, friendships, and milestones from the 2025–2026 school year—Rock Creek Elementary yearbooks are now available to order! 🎉

Deadline to order: 03/25/2026
Starting at: $12.25
Order online: Rock Creek Yearbook Store

Purchasing a yearbook gives your student a keepsake to treasure for years to come and also supports our school’s programs and events. Don’t miss out on this special way to celebrate another amazing year at Rock Creek! 📸💛

Do you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten next school year? Or do you have a friend or neighbor in the area with a little one ready to blast off into learning? It’s time to start preparing for the 2026-2027 school year!

Step 1: The Kindergarten Screener

Before the busy registration season begins, we ask all incoming families to schedule a Kindergarten Screening. This is a vital first step that helps our team get to know your child and ensures we can provide the best possible start to their elementary journey.

Action Item: Please sign up for a screening slot today! DIRECT LINK TO SIGN-UP:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4EA4A923AAF49-51807754-fzsd#/

Step 2: Save the Date for Registration

Official registration opens on March 4th. We offer two convenient ways to get your Rocket signed up with more details to come soon:

~💻 Online Registration: Complete the process from the comfort of your home starting in March.
~🏫 In-Person Registration: Join us at Rock Creek Elementary on starting on Wednesday, March 4th from 8-4pm daily. Our staff will be on-site to help with paperwork, answer questions, and welcome you to the family!

Spread the Word!

Help us reach every future Rocket in our community. Please share this information with your neighbors and friends. We can’t wait to meet our newest students!

Questions? Stay tuned for more info to come, or contact the front office. Go Rockets! 💙🚀

Rock Creek Elementary values the partnership we share with our families, and we invite parents and guardians to take part in our class placement process for the upcoming school year.

This form is an opportunity to share helpful information about your child as we begin building balanced, supportive classrooms. The placement process includes all building teachers, and this document may be shared with every certified staff member who works with your child at RCE.

📝 Important Details:
~Please complete one form for each child currently in grades K–4 at Rock Creek Elementary.
~Forms must be completed by February 27, 2026.
~Forms submitted after this date will not be accepted.

🚫 Teacher Requests:
We do not accept specific teacher requests. Please do not include any staff or teacher names in your responses. Any comments that reference specific staff members will be removed.

Thank you for your time, thoughtful input, and continued partnership. We truly appreciate your support as we work to create the best possible learning environment for every Rock Creek student! 💙

Thank you for your interest in becoming a chaperone for our school field trips. It is a very important role as a volunteer to accompany our students while they are off campus. Instructions are linked below for becoming a screened volunteer.  

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we want to share a quick reminder for Rock Creek Elementary families:
Students may not bring food or candy with Valentine’s Day cards.

This helps us keep all students safe and included by avoiding food allergies, dietary restrictions, and distractions during the school day.

Good news! Non-food trinkets are absolutely okay—items like pencils, stickers, bookmarks, erasers, or small toys are welcome and make great Valentine surprises.

Thank you for helping us create a fun, safe, and inclusive celebration for all of our students. We appreciate your support and partnership!

This is a quick reminder for Rock Creek Elementary families that the MAP testing window for students in grades 3–5 will take place April 27 through May 15.

During this time, students will participate in state-required MAP assessments.

At Rock Creek, you may hear your child talking about something called a Wildly Important Goal, or WIG. While the name sounds big (and a little fun!), the idea behind it is simple and powerful.

A Wildly Important Goal is a goal that matters most. It’s the one (or two) goal that, if accomplished, helps make everything else easier or possible. Instead of trying to do all the things, WIGs help students (and adults!) focus their energy on what truly matters.

Why WIGs Matter
Learning how to set and work toward a goal is a life skill. When students have a clear goal and specific actions to reach it, they learn:

*Focus and prioritization
*Responsibility for their own progress
*The value of effort over time
*That progress grows when actions are intentional
*These are lessons that stretch far beyond the classroom.

Our Rock Creek WIG
This year, our building-wide WIG is:

100% of students will meet their reading goal.

Literacy is our number one rock. We believe strong reading skills unlock access to everything... learning, confidence, and future opportunities. Because of that belief, this goal connects all levels of our school:

*Building-wide reading goals
*Grade-level goals
*Classroom goals
*Individual student goals

Every student is part of this work.

Students track their progress and we update our scoreboards each month. The exciting news?  We’ve seen increased progress every single month! We are incredibly proud of our students, not just for the growth they’re making in reading, but for the leadership skills they’re developing along the way.

How Families Can Bring WIGs Home
WIGs are even more powerful when kids see them in action at home. Here are a few easy ways to make this meaningful for your family:

1)  Set a family or individual WIG (examples: reading minutes, bedtime routines, kindness goals, saving for something special).
2)  Keep it visible—a chart on the fridge or a simple checklist works wonders.
3)  Talk about lead measures (the small actions that help reach the goal, like reading nightly or practicing math facts).
4)  Celebrate effort and progress, not just the final outcome.
5)  Check in together each week: What’s working? What needs adjusting?

When kids see adults setting goals, tracking progress, and sticking with it, the message is loud and clear: This matters.

Thank you for partnering with us as we grow strong readers and strong leaders. The progress we’re seeing is exciting—and the lessons our students are learning will last a lifetime.

Here is a video below that explains this a bit more... 

• Monday, February 2 - E Day

  • FINAL DAY to BRING FOOD DRIVE ITEMS!
  • 100th Day of School!  Dress 100 Years Old!
  • Yearbook Sales Start 
  • National School Counselor Appreciation Week!  Thanks Mrs. Sutton (previously Ms. Lewis) for all you do for RCE!

• Tuesday, February 3 - A Day

  • 5th Grade Transition Night at West Middle School at 5:45pm

• Wednesday, February 4 - B Day

  • Early Release Day - Release at 1:10pm 

• Thursday, February 5 - C Day

  • JET DAY

• Friday, February 6 - D Day 

  • Wear Red for Kids Heart Challenge or dress like a PE teacher!
  • FINAL DAY FOR Kids Heart Challenge!  Thanks for your donation.  
• Saturday, February 7 
  • Certified Hiring Fair
• Sunday, February 8

• Monday, February 9 - E Day

  • STUCO Eraser Gram Sales Start!

• Tuesday, February 10 - A Day

  • Midpoint - Quarter 3
  • PTO Meeting 6-7pm 

• Wednesday, February 11 - B Day

• Thursday, February 12 - C Day

  • JET DAY
  • Reading Parent Meeting at RCE at 6pm 

• Friday, February 13 - D Day

• Saturday, February 14
• Sunday, February 15

Fort Zumwalt's district, school and activities websites connect you to Student Nutrition Menus, events and celebrations across the district.

Download our app, which is free for Apple and for Android.This app connects you with your school and the district. Click Menu, then Dining to see options for this week, next week or all that are entered. Use the Events feature to download items to your personal calendar. Enable notifications so you are connected to inclement weather notifications. Keep up with your school’s achievements, celebrations and important deadlines for everything from yearbook purchases to finals schedules or community events. Take a quick tour in this video.

FZ App video transcript

Rock Creek Menu

⏰ Early Release Days (Wednesdays)

1:10 PM Dismissal ✂️

• February 4

• March 4

• April 1

• May 6

May 21: Tentative Last Day 🎓

Find the cafeteria menu on our website or in the free FZ app, along with our calendars for information on Letter Days and Events. You can sync them to your calendar!

Rock Creek Elementary - Office Hours 7:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. Phone - 636-980-1800

Email Dr. Wayne Dierker, Principal

Email Bridget McCoy, Assistant Principal

• go.FZSD.us/QuickCalendar (or the Quick Calendar button on any of our websites) connects you with the school year at a glance.

• go.FZSD.us/SyncMyCalendar allows visitors to sync our website, Elementary Letter Days and Middle School Letter Days calendars to their own.

• go.FZSD.us/AMIDays is updated annually with information on inclement weather schedules and procedures.

• go.FZSD.us/Kindergarten connects families with information for Kindergarten Enrollment.

• go.FZSD.us/CSIP provides updates on and access to our Continuous School Improvement Plan.