3/19 RRMS School Updates

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Upcoming Dates:

March 22:  Monday Asynchronous Day - Attendance Check-in required

Students should check 4th period Google Classroom and Learning Calendars.

March 26:  Two Hour Early Release for Students, Last day of Q3

Rocky Run Main office closing at 1 PM.

March 29-April 2:  Spring Vacation - RRMS Office Closed

April 5:  Student Holiday

View events on our school website.


A Note from Dr. Goodloe

Dear Rocky Run Families and Students,

We have been increasingly alarmed by the rise in anti-Asian bias and violence over the past year and are saddened by the shootings in Georgia this week that have served to bring this important issue to front of mind for many in our country.  At Rocky Run MS, we stand with our Asian and Pacific Islander community and condemn violence and acts of hate.  We see you and grieve with you.

At Rocky Run we remain fully committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming school community for all of our students and families. We work daily to foster a sense of belonging for all members of the Rocky Run family and are here to provide additional support to individual students as needed. If you feel that your child is in need of additional social or emotional support during these challenging times, please contact us so that a counselor can get in touch with your family. In addition, here are some resources that you might find helpful in addressing these complex issues at home:

Spotlight on Staff and Students:

Our very own ROCK STAR Orchestra Director, Stephen Matthie was featured on FCPS Employee News this week!  And a former RRMS student is featured here: Student Voice- Sean: Mental Health and Wellness - FCPS student Sean shared this video he made about ways to stay connected and to improve your mental health and wellness.

Update Health Forms:

All in person learners received a note from me on 3/11 encouraging families to update health forms.  All families should review the health form in ParentVue and add any existing health conditions that mirror Covid sympoms (i.e. season allergies, chronic headaches, intestinal issues, etc).  The more information that is documented, the more accurate the response will be by our School Health Aide or school staff when the student is on school grounds.  

Parents/guardians are reminded that they can provide this information online via their FCPS 24/7 (Blackboard) accounts within the weCare@school module.

You can download the form from the FCPS website or update it in ParentView:

Student Learning Status Update (in-person or virtual):

Due to staffing and social distancing constraints, we are not able to approve any changes at this moment.  If you would like to make a request to change and would like for your child to be placed on the waitlist, please complete the RRMS RTS Intent Change Request Form. You will hear from us as soon as we are able to process your requests. No changes will be accepted after 3/26. Contact our Director of Student Services, Ms. Hong at yjhong@fcps.edu for any questions. 

I will continue to keep you informed as we plan for the end of the year and for transition events to support both rising 7th and 8th grade students for SY21-22.  Thank you for your ongoing patience and support. More coming soon! Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions, concerns or feedback.

Sincerely,

Amy Goodloe, Principal

atgoodloe@fcps.edu

@DrGoodloe

Together WE can do VIRTUALLY anything!

Meet the Rocky Run MS Staff: View our Staff Directory.


Spring Spirit Week 

RRMS Leadership Development Presents: 

Spring Spirit Week: Let's start spring break off right! 

March 22 - March 26: In-person and Virtually 

Monday: Pajama Day 

Tuesday: Sports Day

Wednesday: Opposite Day

Thursday: In My Feeling Day 

Friday: Ramstar Day 

View flyer or look in your Grade Level Google Classroom for details! 

spring spirit week

Information for in-person learners:

Spring Break Travel

Spring break is just around the corner. Here are some tips to be aware of as families and FCPS staff make plans:

  • Virginia Department of Health (VDH) urges all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel, especially if you are at higher risk of serious COVID-19 or if you will be visiting someone at higher risk of serious COVID-19. This recommendation applies to everyone, even if you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have fully recovered from COVID-19.
  • FCPS does not currently have travel restrictions. Students are not required to quarantine or provide COVID 19 test results for either domestic or international travel. Parents may opt to keep their students at home for 14 days after they return from travel, however, it is not required.
  • Per the Student Health and Safety Guidance Document, a Daily Health Screening Questionnaire will be required for all students attending in-person instruction. These daily health screening questionnaires will be completed on an honor basis and will not be required to be submitted to the school.

Any student, staff or visitor demonstrating symptoms of illness is asked to stay home to help “Stop the Spread” of COVID-19. Updates and information is here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/travel-to-areas-with-widespread-ongoing-community-spread/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

 

Visitor Access and Student Item Drop off:

Please note that visitor access to all FCPS school buildings is limited.   As some students return to school in the building we ask:

  • The building will open at 7:10 AM.
  • On time arrival for students is no later than 7:25.  Class begins at 7:30.
  • Please call the main office (703-802-7700) if you need to drop a student off late or pick up early.
  • All students will have access to FREE breakfast and lunch each day, including items to accommodate dietary restrictions.  Please do not drop off lunches, water bottles or snacks.
  • Music teachers understand when students forget their instruments.  Please do not drop off forgotten instruments, as we cannot guarantee it can get to the students' class

Attendance Reporting:

  • Students are expected to attend in-person on their assigned days
  • If a student must attend virtually on an in-person day, a parent/guardian will be asked to verify that the student is attending online.
  • To report a change in attendance (i.e. appointment, sick, etc.), please contact Rocky Run MS through the Attendance Process:
  • Absence/Tardy Phone Line: 703-802-7782
  • Absence/Tardy Email: RockyRunMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu
  • Report an absence online

Spring Break Travel

Spring break is just around the corner. Here are some tips to be aware of as families and FCPS staff make plans:

  • Virginia Department of Health (VDH) urges all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel, especially if you are at higher risk of serious COVID-19 or if you will be visiting someone at higher risk of serious COVID-19. This recommendation applies to everyone, even if you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have fully recovered from COVID-19.
  • FCPS does not currently have travel restrictions. Students are not required to quarantine or provide COVID 19 test results for either domestic or international travel. Parents may opt to keep their students at home for 14 days after they return from travel, however, it is not required.
  • Per the Student Health and Safety Guidance Document, a Daily Health Screening Questionnaire will be required for all students attending in-person instruction. These daily health screening questionnaires will be completed on an honor basis and will not be required to be submitted to the school.

Any student, staff or visitor demonstrating symptoms of illness is asked to stay home to help “Stop the Spread” of COVID-19. Updates and information is here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/travel-to-areas-with-widespread-ongoing-community-spread/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html


SOL Family Town Halls

We will host a Family Town Hall on Tuesday, March 23 at 8:30 AM and 5 PM. Families will have an opportunity to hear about SOL test and ask questions.  Same presentation will be offered at two different times. The session recording will be shared later. 

Town Hall BBCU Link: https://us.bbcollab.com/invite/2de82cd61ed14e43a6afc09f7fda8f12


Student Services

A reminder that FCPS Online Campus Summer Courses are open for registration and available to eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first-high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning

Students can check their 21-22 Course Requests via Student Vue. We encourage everyone to check their selections and contact his/her counselor for any questions. 


Library Happenings

Curbside Changes

The Rocky Run MS Library will continue to offer curbside pick-up of library books this spring, but a few things have changed.  Students can still put up to 5 books on hold through the library catalogue, Destiny Discover. Check out the Putting Books on Hold Tutorial for help.  

  • For students returning to school, books put on hold will be delivered to English teachers’ classrooms for student pickup during English class.  
  • For students who are remaining virtual, curbside pick-up will be offered on Mondays from 3pm to 6pm and will now occur at DOOR 1.  
  • Wednesday evening curbside pickup will no longer be available.  Review the Curbside Flyer for more details.
  • Returning books: The book return mailbox has been moved to DOOR 1 (main entrance). In person students can also return their books to the book return outside the library’s entrance once they return.
  • Questions about curbside or access to books?  Email RockyRunMSLibrary@fcps.edu.

Virtual Book Fair March 15 - 21 Don’t forget that RRMS Library's Virtual Book Fair is available ALL YEAR!  Visit our RockyRunMSOnlineBookstore to get started. Also, feel free to share the link with your loved ones!  We are especially encouraging families to make purchases during our book fair week of March 15-21.  Please consider purchasing books written by the authors who will be part of our April Virtual Author Visit--James Ponti, Christina Soonternvat, and Karina Yan Glaser.  You can find all their books in a highlighted group on the RRMS Bookworm Central Virtual Book Fair website.  Your child’s experience at the Virtual Author Visit is sure to be enhanced if they have read some of the books ahead of time.  

Book Fair proceeds directly support the Rocky Run Library. Let’s dive into spring with some new great books!

Infographics

Our librarians, Ms. Grover and Ms. Bickford, have made our library accessible to both virtual and in-person students. To learn about how your student can take advantage of all the library has to offer, review the attached infographics (PDFs). These infographics are also available for students on their grade-level Google Classroom as well as their English teacher. 

Virtual Student Infographic

In-Person Student Infographic

Questions?  Reach out to Ms. Grover and/or Ms. Bickford at RockyRunMSLibrary@fcps.edu


After School Information

Click here for the after-school schedule for the week of March 22nd.    For your planning purposes – there will be no after-school activities on Friday, March 26th, during Spring Break, and on Monday, April 5th.  Our virtual program will start back up again on Tuesday, April 6th.  Have a great, safe Spring Break!

Fairfax County’s Neighborhood and Community Services is offering a virtual spring break program this year (March 29 – April 2). Information and the registration form can be found here in the “Community Opportunities” section.

Good luck to our Science Olympiad team as they participate in the state competition this weekend!  We are proud to have them representing Rocky Run!

Shannon Campbell

After-School Specialist & Building Use Coordinator

Rocky Run MS

703-802-7830


Positivity Project - Love of Learning

Love of learning means that you master new skills and topics on your own or in school. Those with a love of learning are intrinsically motivated and engaged in a topic regardless of achieving an external standard. They enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning. They don’t need a prize or a high grade as a reward. Their reward is the process of doing the work and improving.

People who love learning experience positive feelings in the process of acquiring skills, building on existing knowledge, or learning something completely new. Over time, individuals with this strength may develop deep and wide knowledge. Their knowledge enables them to make significant contributions to others’ understanding.


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