Important Dates
April 10 - Holiday (Eid al Fitr: begins sundown 4/9 - sundown 4/10)
April 12-14 - Spring Theater Performance "A Wrinkle in Time"
April 15 - 3rd quarter grades will be viewable in SIS ParentVue and report cards will be distributed
April 17 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM; Family Book Club, 7 PM
RAISE the Ram Card Winners
Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:
Clara Flores Lopez (Engaged)
Joshika Mohan (Engaged)
Niaz Wali (Respectful and Engaged)
Keerthi Nair (Engaged)
Aaron Segal (Accountable)
Elisha Kim (Engaged)
Great job Raising the Ram!
A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Community-
We are up and running in the 4th quarter. I hope that you enjoyed a relaxing spring break. These last few weeks will fly by as we end the 2023-2024 year with many unique and celebratory events.
A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m. Because the timing overlaps with dismissal and after school programming, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices. We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.
Also, while speaking about events next week, please remember that Wednesday, April 10 is Eid al Fitr. This celebration, also known as small Eid, marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims congregate that morning for Eid prayers. It is a time of official receptions and private visits, when friends greet one another, presents are given, new clothes are worn, and the graves of relatives are visited. The most common way to wish someone a Happy Eid al-Fitr is Eid Mubarak, which means “blessed feast” (or festival). RRMS will be closed on April 10.
The calendar transitioned to April over spring break, and I want to highlight that April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have more than 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families. Sign up for the Military Families newsletter.
FCPS is also proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage.
Finally, one of the major reasons that Rocky Run is such an amazing place for students, staff and families and is able to create an academically rigorous and inclusive culture is because of its awesome assistant principals. This week (April 1-April 5) was designated as National Assistant Principal Appreciation Week. I want to acknowledge how appreciative I am to have Young Hong, Tom DeRusso and Johnelle Sweet on staff to support the students and instructional programming at Rocky Run. The school would not run smoothly without these amazing administrators, and I am truly grateful for their leadership.
As always, thank you for your continued partnership and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions. I look forward to seeing you at RRMS soon.
Sincerely,
Peter Kownacki
Principal
Rocky Run Middle School
@pakownacki
Spring Family Night for 8th Grade Families
Save the date! We are excited to announce that our second annual Spring Family Night for 8th Grade Families will be held on Thursday, May 2nd from 6:00-7:30 pm. This event is being planned to answer your questions about the upcoming transition to high school. The evening will include:
- Resource fair with representatives from our three main high schools and community organizations (including some HS spirit wear sales!)
- Student panel of Rocky Run alumni/current high school students for questions and answers
- Counselor presentation on how to help your student get and stay organized for success in high school
- Q&A on how to decipher the FCPS high school math sequence
- Green screen photo booth with your choice of a Chantilly, Centreville, or Westfield background
- Sessions in Korean and in Spanish on what to expect next year
While RSVPs are not required, for our planning purposes, we would appreciate it if you could let us know that you are planning to join us by completing this Google form. If you have any questions, please contact Lorraine Marshall at LJMarshall@fcps.edu or Rachel Sweeney at rwsweeney@fcps.edu.
We look forward to welcoming you to Rocky Run on May 2nd!
Theatre at the Rock Presents A Wrinkle in Time
Theatre at the Rock presents A Wrinkle in Time, based on the classic book by Madeleine L’Engle! Performances are April 12 at 7 pm, April 13 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and April 14 at 2 pm. General Admission Tickets are $10 and are available now at https://etix.com/ticket/v/15634/rocky-run-middle-school-theatre?performance_id=88602155&country=US&language=en. Buy your tickets early and be ready to follow Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin on an intergalactic adventure!
Spring Standards of Learning (SOL)
State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards and may also be used to measure growth in learning state standards. The format and timing of state assessments vary by grade level and content area, as noted in the table below. These include:
- Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in reading, mathematics, and science. For certain grade levels, the reading SOL tests includes an integrated reading/writing (IRW) component. More information is available on the SOL assessments webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/35021);
Test dates for Rocky Run Middle School are scheduled as follows:
- April 16 – IRW (8th grade only)
- May 9 – Reading SOL (7th and 8th)
- May 15 – Math SOL (7th and 8th)
- May 17 – Science SOL (8th grade only)
If you have questions about state assessments, contact your student’s counselor or Ashleigh Kim (askim@fcps.edu), the school test coordinator.
Time is running out to order a Rocky Run yearbook!
The Rocky Run yearbook is a fun way for students to remember this great school year. Guarantee a book for your student and ordering by April 27th. Books are just $30 and sell out every year. Order online at: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/5333
Library Updates
April is School Library Month! This is an annual, national observance for the school community to celebrate the value and impact of school libraries on personal and academic learning. Students and staff will be treated to some fun events, contests, and even prizes! The highlight of the month will be our much-anticipated author visit from Stuart Gibbs. Students should stay tuned to the Library Schoology course, which will post updates on that week’s events on Mondays. We have already started Masked Reader, a weekly contest for students to guess the Rocky Run staff member who is reading a poem, just by hearing their voice!
THANK YOU to everyone who looked for overdue library books over Spring Break! There have been more than 200 book returns in just 3 days and it is wonderful to see so many books returned that were long past due. As a reminder, there are no fines for overdue library books. If your student can’t find a library book, please contact me (ragrover@fcps.edu) and we can discuss arrangements to replace it.
Finally, we received 3 new boxes of books over Spring Break, to include fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels! They will be ready for students next week. Be sure to have your student stop by to see what’s new! This is the last arrival of new books before the end of the school year.
Summer Camps and Learning Programs
Have you made summer plans for your child yet? Are you looking for a camp for your child with special needs?
The Family Resource Center has compiled information on summer camps including local options, camps for students with special needs (sorted by need), and camps for students experiencing grief or who have parents in the military.
FCPS Summer Camp Offerings
Registration is now open for many summer camps and learning opportunities offered by FCPS for all students.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Visit these sites for more information:
Find session dates and registration links and deadlines on the FCPS summer programs webpage.
Family Book Club
Family Book Club is coming up on Wednesday, April 17 at 7pm. Stuart Gibbs will be our featured author for the evening and he will be present to speak with families about his books. We are excited to share this evening with the Franklin Middle School community, too! This evening will take place on the same day that Mr. Gibbs will give presentations at both schools.
How Does Family Book Club Work? Both the student and an adult in your family (parent, grandparent, aunt, etc) sign up to read the same book and come to Rocky Run on April 17 to discuss the book with other readers. You have the option of borrowing books from Rocky Run or purchasing your own books if you would like the author to sign them that evening. It is a wonderful evening that has become a long-standing tradition at Rocky Run. To attend Family Book Club, click here to sign up!
 Save the Date for our Annual 8th Grade End of Year Party! Suggested attire is semi-formal.
More information coming soon!
After-School Program Information
Schedule for the week of 4/8
Important Program Information:
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Mark your calendar - there will be no after-school activities and no late buses on the following dates: 3/22, 5/24.
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Spring Track and Field - Practices started this week. Make sure your student is checking their email.
- Program updates, announcements, schedules, and late bus routes will be communicated through the After-School Schoology Course - all families have been added
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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.
- Check out our Program Preview
- Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu
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