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Rocky Run MS News and Updates can be translated in other languages. Visit HERE to read more.
Important Dates
Events on RRMS Website
4/28: No After-School Activities
5/1-5/5: Sources of Strength - What Helps Me Campaign
5/8-5/12: Staff Appreciation Week
5/11: Science 8 SOL
5/12: Music Dpt Trip
5/17: Reading 7/8 SOL
5/17: Band Awards Concert
5/18: Orchestra Awards Concert
5/22: All Math SOLs
5/24: Chorus Spring Awards Concert
5/25: NJHS Pinning Ceremony 3PM, Gym
5/25: Last day for After-School Activities & Late Buses
5/29: Memorial Day Holiday
6/2: 8th Grade Celebration
6/16: Last day of school
In this Issue
- A Note from Mrs. Burke
- Standards of Learning (SOL)
- Teacher Appreciation Week - PTA Needs Your Help
- Thank a Staff Member
- Save the Date! Safety and Security Town Hall
- ESSER Community Feedback
- Lost & Found
- Register for the Special Education Conference
- Tutor.com Services for All Students
- After-School
- Additional Summer Opportunities
- Observances
- PTA Board Nominations
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Student Intention Form for SY 23-24
- Yearbook Order Center Now Closed
1. A Note from Mrs. Burke
Dear Rocky Run Families and Students,
When we think of what skills we want our children/students to leave our school knowing besides the content, it is our Portrait of a Graduate attributes (Communicator, Collaborator, Goal Direct and Resilient, Global and Ethical Citizen and Critical and Creative Thinker). These skills are taught through our content curriculum, our assemblies, presentations, Rock Time lessons and through all aspects of your child’s school day and at home. This week really highlighted those attributes and how important they are to our children/students' development.
On Monday night, I attended a community meeting on the dangers of fentanyl that was advertised in our Friday emails. The presenters shared a lot of great information around the statistics for our area and county and trained attendees so that all participants could leave with their own Narcan that could save a life. During the presentation, one of the presenters shared, “It doesn’t have to be a perfect conversation, just have the conversation” which stuck with me. There are many times we don’t have important conversations with our children because we are not sure how to start it or what to say. We were reminded many times that just starting the conversation, continuing to build on it and making it normal to talk about what is going on allows for children to know that we are here to support and listen to them. Together, by having these important conversations, we can build resiliency and communication skills in our children that will assist them in making good choices in their lives.
Tuesday was a great pyramid event that showcased our instruction and student learning through the lens of a Portrait of a Graduate (POG) and the Presentations of Learning (POL). The event allowed parents to strengthen their understanding of the POG skills and how our POL’s allow students to show their growth in one or more skills. A big thank you to our staff (Dr. Texdahl, Mr. Williams, Dr. Schiavone, Mrs. Slevins, Mr. Sawatzky) that assisted in putting on the event. A big shout out to our students (Bani Gill, Viraj Luthra, Sienna Nguyen, Sarah Park,Tiago Lobo Meier, Kaylen Won, Pinar Demirtas, Asmin Cakir and Hajar Mahdi) who participated and showcased their learning and growth in the POG attributes through conversations with community members. (See below for pictures) We were very proud of our Rocky Run representation and all of the community members that came out to support the event. If you are looking for ideas of how to start conversations with your child about their day here is a great resource. POG - How can I Help at Home?
This week we celebrated Administrative Assistant Week as well as After-School Specialist Day. Students and staff this week were able to celebrate our administrative assistants AJ Ries, Carol Cutler, Will Martin, Carol Chrazanoswki, and Cleofe White, who support our whole Rocky Run community with their positive attitude, willingness to assist and all around can-do attitude. We also celebrated our after-school specialist, Mrs. Campbell, for all of her hard work with our afterschool program and for providing an environment where all of our students can find an interest to explore. I know I speak for the whole Rocky Run Community when I say THANK YOU!
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
Amanda Burke
Interim Principal
A group of 40 7th and 8th graders had the exciting opportunity this week to travel to Planet Word, a museum focused on language and literacy in Washington, DC. According to their website (planetwordmuseum.org), Planet Word “is the only museum in the country dedicated to renewing and inspiring a love of words and language.” Students explored engaging and interactive exhibits centered on books, languages, music, art, advertising, and speech-writing. Consider planning your own trip to Planet Word this summer!
Students and teachers shared some of their learning experiences related to Portrait of a Graduate skills and attributes at the Chantilly Pyramid Spotlight on Student Learning on Tuesday.
2. Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests
This May, students will be taking the SOL tests in Math, Reading, and Science. Students should be checking their laptops in the coming days for any problematic issues with connectivity, display, keyboards, etc. and visiting the Tech Office at school to have them resolved. Students should also be restarting their laptops often to receive updates.
Please make note of the following dates and if at all possible avoid being out of school on these days:
- May 11 – Science 8
- May 17 – Reading 7 & 8
- May 22 – All Math Levels
Last month an e-notify was sent out with information about expedited retakes. Retesting is available when a student’s score falls in the 375-399 range. (A score of 400 is considered passing for SOL tests.) Parent/guardian permission is required for the school to retest any student in grades 3-8. In an effort to more quickly reassess students, a form was sent out for parents/guardians to give permission if you believe that your student would benefit from a second opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills on the spring SOL test. Please take a moment to either print, complete and return that permission form to the school, or alternatively, indicate your choice through this google form no later than May 5th. A decision not to allow retesting will not impact your student’s course grade or academic record. Please contact our School Test Coordinator, Ms. Ashleigh Kim at ASKim@fcps.edu for any questions.
3. Teacher Appreciation Week - PTA Needs Your Help
The PTA at Rocky Run Middle School is collecting snacks and drinks for a special gift of a snack experience for the staff at Rocky Run during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Items on this wishlist can be purchased and shipped directly to Rocky Run, or similar items can be purchased locally and brought to the main office at the school by May 4. ANY prepackaged snacks and drinks are welcome donations to this effort - you are not limited to the items on this list.
Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3ESZJUX7TSF8U?ref_=wl_share
Thank you for all your support!
Questions can be directed to Suzy Ivy, PTA Treasurer, suzyivy7@gmail.com
4. Thank a Staff Member
The week of May 8th - May 12th is teacher appreciation week. While the administration, PTA and various student groups will be providing goodies throughout the week. We thought that giving our greater community an opportunity to Thank a Staff member would also brighten their day. If you are interested in recognizing a staff member please fill out this google form. We will be surprising the staff with these messages throughout the week.
5. Save the Date! Safety and Security Town Hall
On Monday, May 8, FCPS will hold a town hall to discuss our approach to safety and security and the work we do every day to keep our schools safe. FCPS staff and experts will review our risk assessment processes, the physical measures we already have in place to protect our students and staff, pilot programs to detect vaping, and how we communicate and collaborate with our partners when there is an incident at our schools. Please stay tuned for additional details.
6. ESSER Community Feedback
ESSER Online Feedback Form FCPS received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Funding in the fall of 2021. The funds are being used to support the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students.
ESSER III focus areas include:
- ensuring continuity of learning services and addressing students’ academic needs.
- maintaining the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff.
- addressing student wellness including their social, emotional, mental health, and other needs.
FCPS would like your feedback on how well the school division is responding to the areas above. Please complete this Online Feedback Form, which will be open through Friday, May 5. Your input will inform the School Board and FCPS staff on the community’s view of our work.
7. Lost and Found
Our lost and found is FULL! Please remind your child to check the lost and found for any misplaced items. We have LOTS of jackets, water bottles and lunch boxes. Any items not retrieved by the end of the school year are donated. Please encourage your children to check during their lunch!
8. Register for the Special Education Conference
The FCPS Special Education Conference will take place on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m.This year's theme is Unity Within Our FCPS Community. Registration is now for this virtual event. Watch this short video to learn more about the event, including guest speakers. We encourage registrants who need language assistance to call the Parent Information Phone Lines.
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9. Tutor.com Services for All Students
Does your student need help with homework or preparing for a test? Don’t forget, FCPS students still have no-cost access to Tutor.com 24/7. Do you have questions about the service? View this FAQ.
10. After-School
- Due to a large event being held at Rocky Run on April 28, there will be no after-school program that afternoon. All students should depart at the 2:15 dismissal bell.
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For your planning purposes, please note that our last day of activities and late buses for the school year will be Thursday, 5/25.
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Rising 9th graders - information about spring/summer sports opportunities will be posted on the After-School Group on Schoology as they are received. Check there frequently for updates. Interest meetings/clinics will also be added to our weekly after-school calendar as they are scheduled.
- Program Details
- Our primary communication tool will be the After-School Group on Schoology
- Late bus routes, schedules, announcements, club sign-up forms will all be posted on this group.
- Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu.
11. Additional Summer Opportunities
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Rising 7th & Rising 8th grade families - Registration opened on 3/29 for the VIP Summer Program. Information was sent to all of our rising 7th and rising 8th grade families via a Western Fairfax VIP News You Choose message. We are currently on a waitlist, but feel free to fill out the registration form as we are typically able to pull students up throughout the summer.
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Rising 9th grade families - Here is the link for the Teens in Action Summer Camp Registration. Check it out!
12. Observances
April Observances
- Month of the Military Child
- National Arab American History Month
- School Library Month
- Autism Acceptance Month
- Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
- National Poetry Month
- Eid al-Fitr
- Earth Day
- National Library Week
- Administrative Professionals Day
13. RRMS Executive PTA Board Nominations Open, Apply Now!
The RRMS PTA board supports many of the enrichment activities for students and staff like the author visits, mentor program, teacher appreciation week, and end-of-school-year celebrations to name a few.
We are in need of candidates to run for the PTA Executive Board positions for the 2023-24 school year. The time commitment is minimal and it is a great way to be connected in the RRMS community. Current open positions are Secretary, Treasurer, President, and Vice President. Position Descriptions are below.
Please consider joining the board and use this Google form to self-nominate or nominate a peer. Nominations are being accepted through June 3.
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Secretary: Collects information for meeting agendas, prior to the meeting, and distributes agendas for each board meeting. Takes minutes and records business transacted at each meeting (board and general meetings).
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Treasurer: Collects money for PTA functions, dispenses money for PTA expenses, maintains all accounts and records, provides monthly reports and projections at PTA meetings, and files all tax forms. Serves as chair of the budget/finance committee and presents the budget to the membership.
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President: Serves as the managing executive of the PTA. The PTA president trains, counsels, and provides information to parents and teachers in the school district, according to PTA bylaws, and oversees the activities of board officers.
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Vice President: Supports the President with the broad management of matters related to fundraising and overseeing PTA activities. The VP also serves as an aide to the president and may perform the duties of the president in his or her absence.
14. Student Intention Form for 23-24 School Year
If your student is transferring to another school, please complete the Student Intention Form for the next school year and send the completed form to Ms. White, our Registrar via email at CBWhite@fcps.edu. No need to submit the form if your child is going to attend our school as planned.
15. Yearbook Order Center Closed
The Yearbook Order Center sales are now closed. We have sold all preorder books at this time.
At yearbook distribution in June, a few extra books may be available for sale, and details about purchasing those books will be available at that time.
Wondering if you bought a book? Please check the list on the Schoology announcement this week.
Thanks.
Email lkkaplan@fcps.edu with questions
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- School Safety Conversation
- Student Awards
- Teacher and Bus Driver Career Fairs
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
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FCPS Cares - Recognize Rocky Run MS Employees!
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Rocky Run MS.
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