Hello, Rams! Please enjoy a few articles from our middle school journalism class, who have been working hard on their writing skills. We hope you learn something new today!
Sea Turtles
Written by: Dottie Vangelisti & Sofia Ruvalcaba
Flatback sea turtles, named after the flatness of their shells, mainly live in the coastal waters of Australia and Papua New Guinea. They have the smallest range of all sea turtle species, which means they do not migrate often, and prefer to stay within their native waters. They enjoy munching on seaweed and coral, as well as sea cucumber and jellyfish. Also, these reptiles are the only species of the seven sea turtles that are not threatened or endangered. Did you know that more than 85% of sea turtle injuries come from improperly disposed fishing supplies? These supplies consist of nets, lines, trawls, and much more. Sea turtles can become entangled in the mess, and potentially drown. They could also face ingestion issues, seeing as they might mistake the supplies for food. The Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (MOCMI) works hard to solve these pressing issues. For example, the nonprofit organization offerts rehabilitation for injured turtles. Two weeks ago, Kirby the sea turtle was flown in from Hawaii to the institute. There, she was able to receive treatment for her broken humerus bone. She was released back into the ocean two weeks after her successful recovery. Since 2020, the organization has been able to rescue over 1,400 sea turtles, and has no plans on stopping soon. There are a number of things that we can do to help protect sea turtles. We can volunteer at organizations that work towards saving sea turtles. We can reduce our plastic use by using reusable bags, bottles, and straws. And, we can clean up litter whenever possible. It is important to keep sea turtles safe. They are critical for keeping the marine ecosystem balanced.
over 1 year ago, Rockdale Journalism Class
Hello, Rams! Please enjoy a few articles from our middle school journalism class, who have been working hard on their writing skills. We hope you learn something new today!
Aurora Borealis
What is an Aurora?
An Aurora Borealis or more rather known, The Northern Lights, is most commonly seen in the Northern United States and Canada, if you're in the north, and look North-East, You can sometimes find an aurora just hanging in the sky.
How is an Aurora Formed?
An aurora is made with solar wind in the sky, and with the sun as well. Using the Earth's Magnetic field, Earth can use their field to block the solar winds. The sun uses steam charged particles, and the steamed particles are funneled towards the earth's poles. With earth's upper atmosphere, the particles collide with the gases. (Which is mostly Oxygen and Nitrogen). And when the particles hit, It excites the atoms and molecules, causing those same atoms and molecules to explode, causing them to release energy in the form of light. When you see different colors of light, it’s just different.
The News
Auroras have been seen further south than usual, on April 21 these auroras were a G 3, but reached up to a g 4 out of 5.This Geostorm happened last week but came to earth a little earlier than expected. Auroras can move fast and change shapes quickly from waves to straight lines. The first Aurora was recorded in 2600 bc. The term “Northern lights" comes from a Roman god, the god of Auroras and dawn.
Aurora facts
Auroras can happen anywhere, even on Jupiter, as long as they have magnetic poles like earth. Auroras can happen there too. The most common type of auroras are usually red or green but can still be different colors like blue or violet. Some people have said auroras make sound. And this is true they make popping and crackling sounds. In 1867 people thought that auroras were sights of doom but Andrew Clements proved them wrong and explained that is just a phenomenon. Auroras look like there still just floating but they are moving at speeds of up to 45 million mph. (20km a second.)
over 1 year ago, Rockdale Journalism Class
Cephalopod Science
The giant squid is the second largest known species of squid, the biggest being the colossal squid. Squids are a part of the cephalopod species. Giant squids, unlike most animals, have three basketball-sized hearts. Two of these hearts pump blood to the gills, while the other heart pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. They usually grow to a maximum of 33 feet but the largest we’ve found was up to 43 feet (13 meters) tall, the tentacles extending this past 59 feet.
The first giant squid was discovered in 2006 and they are still fascinating to this day. This species of squid is widely known for living deep in the ocean and eating fish and other squid. They can catch prey up to 33 feet away because of how long their tentacles can reach. After the squid catches their prey, they bring it to their beak and eat it. These beaks are so powerful, a fisherman was bitten by one and it crushed his skull. The giant squids are a long rival of the Sperm whale species, due to them competing for territory, food, and other things.
They live mainly in the twilight zone in the ocean, which is around 660 to 3,280 feet below sea level. This leads to not much being known about them because of how far deep they live. Humans have rarely seen giant squid for the same reason. Even if they did however, the giant squid doesn’t seem to care about humans, often ignoring the humans they see. These squids only live around 4 to 6 years because of their rapid growth in height.
The reason they grow to these sizes is because of a phenomenon called “Abyssal Gigantism”. This phenomenon happens when an animal lives in colder waters, they have limited resources, and they have reduced predators. Due to them having reduced predators, they don’t come up near the surface often. Despite this, on June 25th, 2005 a giant squid was captured alive and brought to the surface. It weighed the squid and found it was 495 kg (1091.29 pounds).
over 1 year ago, Rockdale Journalism Class
Good morning, Rockdale Families!
Don't forget: TCBY pre-order forms are due by this FRIDAY, MAY 9TH! We strongly encourage you to pre-order so you get the flavors you want. Payment will be due at pickup on May 16th. 🍦🍨
Have a wonderful day!
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
Today our staff celebrated Cinco de Mayo.
over 1 year ago, Rockdale School District 84
HAPPY TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK to our amazing staff at Rockdale! We are so grateful for the hard work they put in to support and care for our students. We are so lucky to have them! Rockdale teachers are truly one of a kind.
Make sure to thank an educator this week and every day!
over 1 year ago, Elizabeth Darlin
We have had a week full of recognitions at Rockdale!
On Wednesday, April 30th, two of our graduating 8th graders, Dhan Mesiona and Gitzel Sanchez Romo, were recognized for their hard work throughout their careers at Rockdale. They were invited to a student recognition breakfast, hosted by the Illinois Principals Association, to congratulate them on their dedication and achievements in school. We are so proud of the amazing students they have become during their time at Rockdale and can't wait to hear how they shine in high school!
On Thursday, May 1st, a 5th and 8th grade student, Brielle Slabaugh and Gitzel Sanchez Romo, were presented with the Joliet Chamber of Commerce Regional Scholarship award. These students submitted an essay to the Joliet Chamber of Commerce and were selected as two of the winners for their outstanding writing and applications! Both of these students have received a scholarship to be used when they graduate high school and move onto college.
Our Rams amaze us everyday!
over 1 year ago, Elizabeth Darlin
8th Grade Families,
Have you started thinking about school registration for next year?!
Joliet Township is excited to start welcoming the Class of 2029 onto their Central and West campuses!
Below, you'll find more JTHS Class of 2029 Information:
Interested in JTHS Fall Sports? Here's what JTHS has to offer: Boys + Girls Cross Country Football Boys + Girls Golf Boys Soccer Girls Swimming Girls Tennis Girls Volleyball Girls Flag Football
Due to IHSA calendar, all of these sports have start dates prior to the first day of school. Students should contact the athletic department if they are interested and don’t have the tryout information by the start of August.
Every athlete must have a valid/current physical on file with the Athletics Department and must complete the online registration process each season prior to try outs.
Should you have questions, please reach out to Joliet Central or West for more information!
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
Our Rockdale musicians had an amazing day at the ILMEA District 1 Elementary Music Festival! They spent the morning learning about different musical instruments such as ukuleles, percussion, xylophones, and voice. They even got to show off what they learned at the end of the day during a group performance with over 20 other Chicago area schools. We are so proud of our students and the hard work they put into everything they do, even on a Saturday!
A big thank you to Mrs. Kelch and Mrs. Shear for accompanying our students on this trip and planning a fun-filled day for them! Go Rams!
over 1 year ago, Elizabeth Darlin
🌞Can you believe it's time to start thinking about summer plans already?!😎
Joliet Central and Joliet West are offering sports camps throughout June and July 2025! It's a great opportunity for kids to check out sports they might be interested in playing or work on those skills for the upcoming Rockdale athletic seasons!
⛹️♂️🏈🎾🏐🤾♂️👟🏌️♂️⚽
Check out the links below for more information:
Joliet Central Sign Up: https://manage.snap.app/register/jolietcentral/dashboard/catalog
Joliet West Sign Up:
https://manage.snap.app/register/jolietwest/dashboard/catalog
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
On Thursday, April 17th, the 7th grade class had the opportunity to visit Chicago. The students ascended 103 stories up into the Willis Tower to learn about the architectural achievements and history of the city while enjoying amazing views! This was followed by an afternoon at the Chicago History Museum, which is filled with artifacts that bring Chicago's rich history to life.
Special thanks to Mr. Domenico, Mr. Olson, and Ms. Lopez for putting the trip together and executing another wonderful learning opportunity!
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
Hello, Ram families!
This is a reminder that Rockdale will be hosting a Career Fair tonight from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. We will have over 25 community members in the building to teach our students about their exciting careers and answer any questions they may have. All students who attend Career Fair will receive a homework pass and their name will be entered into a raffle to win one of many prizes! if you have any questions, please reach out to the main office at 815-725-5321.
See you tonight!
over 1 year ago, Elizabeth Darlin
Good afternoon, Rockdale Families!
We have a busy week ahead with some amazing opportunities for students and families to be a part of!
On Wednesday, April 23rd from 6:00-7:30 PM, we have our Career Fair. Students can come learn about different professions and options for their bright futures!
On Thursday, April 24th from 3:45-5:00 PM, we have our next Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting. All Rockdale families are welcome to join us for some Loteria (bingo), light refreshments, and to learn more about BPAC!
Please return your RSVP for this event by Tuesday, April 22nd.
Finally, on Friday, April 25th from 6:00-8:00 PM, we will host our Spring Student Council Dance for 5th-8th grade students. More information will be sent home with students this week.
We hope everyone enjoys the rest of their long weekend! As a reminder, NO SCHOOL on Monday, April 21st. See you on Tuesday!
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
Ram Nation,
Please join us on Wednesday, April 23 from 6:00-7:30 PM for our Career Fair!
We will be joined by area-wide professionals as they share what they do for work and options our Rams will have in their futures. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs for those students that participate!
What a great opportunity for our students to learn about what they might do when they grow up!
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
Registration for the 2025-26 school year is open now through May 23rd! To complete your student's school registration, please log into your TeacherEase account.
Families who are completely registered by May 1st will be entered into a raffle to win some amazing prizes from Rockdale School, El Comal, Roc City, Rockdale Pancake House, and Dan's Homemade Candies!
Families can also join us on Tuesday, April 15th from 4:30-7:30 PM for Registration Night! Use this opportunity to complete your 2025-26 school registration and get more information about next school year!
If you have questions, please call the main office at 815-725-5321.
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
Our Rockdale Journalism class has been working hard on researching and putting together their own informational articles in class! They would like to share one of their recent pieces about the history behind the luck of a four leaf clover. We hope you enjoy and learn something new!
The Luck of the Four
Leaves Everybody, everywhere wants a little pinch of luck. Luck comes in many forms, such as dreamcatchers, a rabbit’s foot, etc. But by far, the luckiest has to be the four leaf clover. Not only are they incredibly rare, they’re also the face of luck itself. The clover is usually only 3 leaves, but a rare mutation in the clover allows it to grow an extra leaf, making it harder, and more lucky to find. A person has a one in 10,000 chance to find one. Do you think you could find one? How long do you think it would take you? The four leaf clover was considered lucky since around the 1620s. It was incredibly rare and people found it to be a symbol of good fortune. The reason people also thought it was lucky was because they thought it was connected to Christianity, the four leaves representing faith, hope, love, and of course luck. Celtic Priests used them as a good luck charm to see and ward away demons. How do you think priests used four-leaf clovers to get rid of demons? The luck of the clover was originally used in a play. The play was called Astrologaster and it was made by Sir John Melton in the year 1620. It was made in Shakespeare’s London and it was based on a true story. Ireland is another place where they’re considered lucky. An Irish Proverb states, “A Good Friend is Like A Four Leaf Clover, Hard to find and Lucky to Have.” It also shows itself as a symbol of Irish identity. Do you think less people believe in luck now than the 1620s?
over 1 year ago, Elizabeth Darlin
Did we mention how much we love to see our students collaborating?!
Our 6th graders teamed up to help some of our 2nd grade students learn about the effects of weathering and erosion. In their "Save the City" lab, teams built Lego cities and then designed a plan to protect their cities from water erosion. Teams built their protection barriers and then tested to see if their designs saved their city.
Shout out to Mrs. Chojnicki, Mrs. Vallera, and Mr. Olson for making science a hands-on experience for our Rams!
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
We love seeing the collaboration between our older and younger learners!
This week, students in third grade watched videos and read articles about Inky the Octopus and his escape from the National Aquarium of New Zealand in 2016. After this, they worked on writing about why the story was interesting, while using information from multiple sources to support their ideas.
The 7th and 8th graders prepared for the collaboration by watching the videos and reading the articles as well. They joined their third grade partners to help edit their graphic organizers and assist with typing their responses. They will continue their collaboration throughout the end of the week.
Shout out to Mrs. Murphy, Ms. Nordstrom, and Ms. Willis for giving students the opportunity to learn with each other!
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
Our amazing Rams will be showcasing their talents this Friday, April 4th! Please join us for the 2025 Student Council Talent Show at 6:30 PM. Door E will be open at 6:15 PM, and admission for adults is $1.
We can't wait to see all of our Rams performing later this week!
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Vallera or Mr. Domenico.
over 1 year ago, Ms. Kirk
The competition is heating up in our Attendance Madness! Rivalries are being formed across grade levels and homerooms.
Mrs. Blenck's Buzzer Beaters and Ms. Lee's Legendary Leaders have leveled up their team spirit as they face off against each other in week 1! Who will advance to the Elite Eight?!
Attendance Madness runs March 17-April 17. We encourage students to come to school healthy and ready to learn every day to support their classroom's weekly homeroom attendance. We can't wait to see who comes out on top and earns that Pizza Party!
