Important Dates
Week of September 11 - Cross Country Practices Begin (see below)
September 13 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, in the Library with (ZOOM option)
Week of September 18 - After-School Activities Begin
September 21 - TJHSST Information Sessions, 3:00 PM, Gym
Phyllis Fagel Presentation, 6:00 PM, Lecture Hall
A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Families-
The RRMS staff thoroughly enjoyed connecting with families during our Back To School Night presentation on Thursday. It's hard to believe, but this was Rocky Run's first in-person Back to School Night since the COVID shutdown! It was great to re-establish the strong relationships with our community in support of student achievement and mental health. If you were unable to attend, please take a few minutes to watch our introductory video to meet members of the leadership team. Additional resources from the event can be found on our website.
Keeping with the theme of community outreach and family partnership, I hope to see many of you on Thursday, September 21, at 6:00 for our guest speaker. We will be hosting Phyllis Fagell, author of Middle School Matters and Middle School Superpowers. Ms. Fagell's books focus on setting kids up for healthy friendships and academic success in middle school and beyond. All families that attend will receive a copy of her book. Please let us know if you plan to attend by filling out this LINK.
Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Peter Kownacki
Principal
Rocky Run Middle School
@pakownacki
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RAISE the Ram Card Winners
Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:
Grace Kim (Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive)
Ronny Meza (Respectful, Accountable, Engaged)
Matthew Isaza (Respectful, Inclusive)
Riley Boling (Respectful, Accountable)
Marisa Bell (Accountable)
Anh Do (Engaged)
Great job Raising the Ram!
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2023 Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. In late June, the School Board approved changes to the SR&R for the 2023-24 school year. Updates include a revision of dress code expectations, bystander expectations for students witnessing harmful or unsafe behaviors, bullying, and substance abuse responses. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Friday, September 29.
Parental Permission to Use Digital Resources
Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission.
Each digital resource used in FCPS has had an instructional and technical review. Information about the educational technology tools approved for use within FCPS can be found in the online Digital Ecosystem Library.
Parents can find more information about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
 You are Invited: “Setting Kids Up for Healthy Friendships and Academic Success in Middle School and Beyond”
Parents, please join us on Thursday, September 21st from 6:00 to 7:30 when we will welcome author Phyllis Fagell to Rocky Run. Ms. Fagell is a nationally certified school counselor, a psychotherapist who works with children and teens in private practice, a journalist, and the author of both Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond--and How Parents Can Help and Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times. A frequent contributor to publications such as The Washington Post and CNN, her ideas have been shared in outlets including The New York Times, NPR, The Chicago Tribune, and The Atlantic. Ms. Fagell has three children and lives in Bethesda, MD.
The presentation will include topics such as:
- transitioning successfully to middle school
- friendship challenges
- boosting kids' resilience
While RSVPs are not required, for planning purposes we would appreciate it if you could let us know that you will be attending through this Google form. We look forward to learning together on September 21st!
RRMS 2024 Yearbooks on sale NOW!
Order now and take advantage of the early bird $25 price!
To order visit:
www.yearbookordercenter.com
Use school code: 5333
World Language Credit Exam
Registration for this fall's World Language Credit Exam has begun.
The World Language Credit Exam assesses reading and writing language proficiency in languages other than English. Students who take the exam may earn up to three World Languages credits for levels one, two, and three for the language of the exam. The credits may fulfill the World Languages requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma. For details about the exam and test languages, please read the World Language Credit Exam Website.
Once you have reviewed the information, if you would like to sign up for the exam, click this link and fill out the required information: Link to register for World Language Credit Exam. Please contact your school counselor with any questions.
Library Updates
This week, all 7th grade students visited the library with their English class to learn about the library, do an activity, and check out new books. Ask them about their favorite part! We are excited to welcome back our 8th grade students next week to the library for an activity and checking out books, too. If you have an 8th grade student, please check with them to see if they have returned their summer checkout books. We still have over 100 books still out from Summer Library Checkout!
Did you know? The library will offer after school clubs! Be sure to look for Creativity Club and Student Library Advisory Team on the after school clubs list.
TJHSST Admissions Information Session
Representatives from the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be coming to Rocky Run Middle School to present information about 2023-24 admissions process on Thursday, September 21st at 3pm.
Parents/guardians and students of current 8th graders who meet the course requirements (see eligibility requirements) are highly encouraged to attend. In addition, families of current 7th graders who are curious about the process may attend as well. Please fill out the google form to notify us of your attendance by 9/15 so that we may plan our space accordingly.
A YouTube video is posted on the TJ Admissions website and families are advised to view this prior to attending the presentation meeting. In addition, don’t forget to click on the Freshman Application Process link near the bottom of the webpage to find admissions calendars and other pertinent information regarding this year’s freshman round.
If you have questions specific to the admissions process, please reach out to the TJ Admissions Office. Or if you have questions about individual student’s courses, please contact your child’s counselor.
Middle School Sports - Cross Country!
Is your student interested in participating in our cross country program?! If so, please complete these steps -
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Physical forms must be completed and returned to the main office ASAP. These are required in order for students to be eligible to begin practices during the week of 9/11. If your forms are turned in late, students will just need to complete 4 practice sessions before they are eligible to participate in a meet.
- All interested families must complete this registration form ASAP. This is required to be eligible to begin practicing.
- This opportunity is open to all RRMS students, regardless of skill level. There will not be any tryouts.
- Click here to see the slides from the student interest meeting that was held on 9/8.
Questions? Please contact Shannon Campbell
(SLCampbell@fcps.edu) and Katy Speir (KRSpeir@fcps.edu)
as soon as possible
Rocky Run PTA 2023-24 Membership Drive
We invite you to join because you can count on us to support our children and school community. Membership is $25 annually for up to 2 parents/caregivers.
To pay for your 2023-24 membership, visit https://rockyrunms.memberhub.com/store/items/74804
All memberships purchased before 9/1 will be entered in a raffle to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card! Pay online and become a PTA member today!
Your support makes it possible to support the following things that fall outside of the school budget:
- Staff Appreciation Efforts
- Principal Treats/Rewards for Students
- Author Visit for Students
- Therapy Animals for Students
- 7th Grade Treats for Students
- 8th Grade Dance
- Staff Grants
PTA Meeting September 13th
Save the date! Please join us for our first Parent-Teacher Association Meeting in the school library on September 13th at 6:30 pm to meet our new Executive Board, hear about upcoming events, and share your ideas for the school year ahead. Before the PTA meeting, there will be a Principal Q&A session.
For PTA members that are unable to attend in person, please use this ZOOM LINK to attend virtually.
Questions? Contact us at rockyrunmspta@gmail.com
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RRMS Spirit Wear!
The Rocky Run PTA has launched the first spirit wear campaign of the year! Show off your Rocky Run pride with some new swag!
Orders are online only through the Bonfire website now through September 10 and will be shipped directly to your address in September. There are three new designs and some classic designs available, too!
View the Bonfire store and order today! There will be more opportunities to order spirit wear throughout the year, too.
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After-School Information
We are excited to get our after-school clubs and activities started during the week of 9/18. The schedule for the week of 9/18 will be posted on SchoHere is some important information -
Late buses will begin running on 9/11, but only for students who are participating in Cross Country and/or have made pre-arrangements with a teacher for extra help, retakes, etc. Schedule is linked here and included below.
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Registration form is required for ALL RRMS students (regardless of intent to participate). Your student will not be able to stay after for any clubs, activities, or events if this form is not completed. This is not the same form as the one required for Cross Country.
- Program updates, announcements, schedules, and late bus routes will be communicated through the After-School Schoology Course - all families have been added
- Check out our Program Preview
- We are in need of a Science Olympiad coach in order to have a team this year. Interested in being our coach?! Reach out to Shannon Campbell ASAP!
- Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu
Quick Links
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