Important Dates
October 4-6 - Science 7 Field Trips (students attend one day based on their science teacher)
October 11 - PTA Meeting, 6:30pm
October 18 - SEL Screener
October 23-24 - Fall Pictures (students will be photographed during their PE class period)
October 26 - 7th Grade Family Night
 RAISE the Ram Card Winners
Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:
Umar Shafkey (Engaged)
Scott Fielding (Engaged)
Penny Bury (Accountable)
Ben Corliss (Respectful)
Nick Noble (Respectful, Accountable, Engaged)
Anna Duong (Engaged)
Great job Raising the Ram!
A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Families-
We had another great week at Rocky Run Middle School. It was great to see our 7th grade science classes taking advantage of the nice weather and touring our grounds to study the RR watershed in preparation for the Meaningful Watershed Experience (MWEE) fieldtrips next week. At Rocky Run, we truly believe that students should have high-quality and meaningful, real-life learning opportunities as much as possible. Those experiences are the things that students remember well beyond middle school.
I hope that our students have another meaningful experience this Saturday, as our cross country team participates in the first meet of the season. If you are free, swing by Herndon Middle School on Saturday, September 30 to cheer on our running rams!
Happy Chuseok to our Korean community, who celebrated this week. Chuseok, also known as the Korean Thanksgiving, is a day to express gratitude to the ancestors for a bountiful harvest. Keeping with the theme of gratitude, we are thrilled to recognize our amazing custodial team on October 2 for National Custodian Appreciation Day. Our building and school grounds are always in pristine condition because of the tireless work of our custodial staff. Each and every member of the team takes enormous pride in our building and it shows! Thank you to the RRMS Custodial Team.
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
 On November 3 Rocky Run Students will participate in a Day of Service. Students will participate in a meaningful service opportunity and learn about other ways they can make a positive impact on their community. The 8th grade class will be packing meals for Rise Against Hunger. Thank you to the families who have donated to help make this possible. So far we have raised $921.25. This is a great start, but we have a long way to go! Please share this with friends, family, and local businesses who might support our students in this service opportunity.
Donate using the QR code or at this link: https://rah.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/homepage?id=7018c000001FL0sAAG
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener
FCPS is committed to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning. FCPS approved a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener that students use to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. All students in grades 3-12 have the opportunity to participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window. School staff are available to discuss results with families.
You can opt out your child from participating in the SEL Screener in ParentVue or by completing this Opt-Out form. The opt out applies to the current school year and must be completed annually. More formation about the SEL Screener
PTA No-Fuss Fundraiser
This year our PTA is conducting a "no fuss fundraiser", and we are encouraging all students to participate! Parents can view information about the fundraiser and sign up here.
Memories Needed for the Yearbook!
The yearbook staff is looking for pictures of Rocky Run students showing the first day of school, weekend and out of school activities, field trips, clubs and concerts. Submit online at https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=rockyrun.
RRMS 2024 Yearbooks on sale NOW!
Order now and take advantage of the early bird $25 price!
To order visit:
https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/5333
Hearing and Vision Screening
Hearing and Vision Screening will be held on Tuesday, 10/17, and Wednesday, 10/18, through PE classes for all 7th graders, as well as all 8th graders who are new to Fairfax County. If your student wears glasses, please be sure they have them at school on screening day.
If you would like to assist as a volunteer with the screening process, please click here to view the signup link.
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, and 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.
Red Ribbon Week
Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Mexican-American man working for the DEA after formerly serving in various positions such as the Marine Corps, as a fireman, a police officer, and a deputy sheriff in California. In 1985 he had been on assignment in Mexico for four years. And he was on the trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. He was getting close to exposing a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline until he was kidnapped that February. He was headed to lunch with his wife when he was last seen being thrown into a van by masked men. His body wasn’t discovered until a month later.
After his death, “Camarena Clubs” were launched in his hometown of Calexico, California. Hundreds wore red ribbons and pledged to lead a drug-free life in his honor. President Ronald Reagan was in office at the time. The club members presented a proclamation to First Lady Nancy Reagan which brought the red ribbon pledge national attention. The campaign became official in 1988 by the National Family Partnership, President Reagan, and the “Just Say No” creator, Mrs. Reagan, as honorary chairpersons. Red Ribbon Week is now celebrated annually from October 23-31st.
Check out this Google Earth video on “The Life of DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena”.
Sources & Resources:
DEA
Fairfax CSB Opioid Info
REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses
Medication Disposal
FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program
DEA Drug Take Back Day
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.
For further Information & support:
Stacey King, MSW, M.Ed
Westfield Pyramid/ Chantilly Pyramid
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
Saking@fcps.edu
College Fair and Look to the Future Events
The 2023 College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Approximately 250 colleges and universities will be represented, including two and four-year colleges and US Service Academies. Following the fair, the Two-Night Postsecondary Virtual Event will be held on Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. FCPS high school students and families are encouraged to participate in these events. Please register for these events if you plan to attend. Both events will help students be better prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey.
2023 College Fair Flyer - English / Arabic/ Chinese / Korean /Spanish / Urdu /
Vietnamese
Advanced Academic Programs Level 4 Fall & Spring Screening
Parents or guardians of students NEW to FCPS as of Jan 2023 who were not screened may initiate screening for full-time AAP Level IV services by submitting an AAP Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Anna Slevin, Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), by October 15, 2023. Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information.
Spring 2024 AAP Level IV referrals can be completed for any 7th-grade student. Spring referrals are due to Anna Slevin by Friday, December 15, 2023.
More information about the screening process as well as an overview of AAP services available at the middle school level may be found here on the FCPS website or families can view this video, AAP Overview of Services.
Please contact Anna Slevin at agslevin@fcps.edu for any questions.
Scoliosis Fact Sheet
The Scoliosis Fact Sheet and translations are available at: https://www.fcps.edu/node/42356.
After-School Program Information
After-School Schedule for the Week of 10/2
Make sure your student is checking Schoology frequently for program updates, announcements, and schedules.
Here is some important information -
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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.
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SCIENCE OLYMPIAD - We are in need of a Science Olympiad co-coach in order to have a team this year. Interested in assisting our coach?! Reach out to Shannon Campbell ASAP!
- 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
- Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu
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