Important Dates
May 9 - Reading SOL
May 10 - Music Department Trip
May 15 - Math SOL
May 17 - Science SOL; Talent Show, 7 PM
May 22 - NJHS Pinning Ceremony
May 27 - Holiday (No School)
May 30 - Last Day of After-School Activities & Late Buses
May 31 - 8th Grade End of Year Celebration, 6 - 8 PM
A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Community-
What a busy week at Rocky Run, even though there were only 4 days of schools. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, sometimes it feels like we cram 5 days of learning and activities into 4 day weeks. This week epitomized that idea.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all of our 7th grade students had the opportunity to head into Washington DC to tour the National Mall and visit the monuments for the people and events that they've been studying all year. As a product of FCPS schools and a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia, I think that I often take our proximity to DC for granted. What a cool field trip and experience for our students. I attended the trip on Wednesday (as a school employee and dad) and the weather was amazing! We were lucky to have great weather and happened to be at the World War 2 memorial during an Honor Flight ceremony. I definitely achieved my daily 10,000 steps goal.
Not to forget about our 8th grade students, on Thursday we hosted our annual 8th Grade Family Night. We welcomed the PTA's of our feeder high schools, hosted student panels from recent RRMS alumni to talk about the transition to high school and led panels by our math teachers on what to expect in high school. By far, the highlight of the night was the green screen where students could take pictures with their high school mascots! Thanks to all the RRMS staff and community members that made the event so meaningful.
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
Thank a Staff Member!
Rocky Run will be celebrating Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week the week of May 6-May 10. We would like to give your community the opportunity to thank a staff member or share what makes them special! If you'd like to participate, please fill out this form today!
Thank you!
SY24-25 Intention Form
If your student is transferring to another school next year, please complete the Student Intention Form and send it 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 or one of our feeder high schools as planned.
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:
- 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.
Eco Club Earth Day Cleanup
On Tuesday, forty 7th and 8th grade students picked up litter on the grounds of Rocky run. They snacked on banans and learned about composting the peels to reduce their carbon footprint!
A huge thanks to all of the students who came out to help keep our school grounds looking beautiful, and to our amazing Eco Club sponsor, Ms. Renee Martin!
Chantilly Charge Ahead Program for Rising 9th Graders
Please see the flyer for information about the Charge Ahead program for rising 9th graders at Chantilly!
Registration link: https://forms.gle/9eL8UB9ydgg3uyuGA Payment via students www.myschoolbucks.com
Sports Physicals
Athletic physicals are required for all middle and high school student-athletes. Beginning May 1, 2024, FCPS high schools will offer athletic pre-participation physical exams for students interested in sports during the 2024-25 school year. This is for rising 7th and rising 8th graders who are interested in participating in our Cross Country and/or Track & Field teams next year OR rising 9th graders who will be participating in a high school sport next year. These events serve as the primary fundraiser for our high school athletic training programs and each exam costs $50. Rising middle school students are eligible to receive a physical at no cost although donations to the HS athletic training program are welcomed.
Pre-registration is highly encouraged; walk-in appointments may not be available. You can register here: Student registration. Once your registration is received, the school’s athletic trainer will contact you to confirm your appointment time. Athletic physical exams must be completed on this form:
Form for Rising 7th and Rising 8th Grade Students to participate in Cross Country and/or Track & Field next school year. Please note: A physical is NOT required for general participation in the Middle School After-School Program - this is only for Cross Country and/or Track & Field participants: FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE)
Form for Rising 9th Grade Students to participate in any high school sport next year: https://www.fcps.edu/activities/student-athletics
If you are a medical professional (MD, DO, NP, PA, ATC, PT, EMT, etc.) interested in volunteering your time in support of these events, please register to help out: Volunteer registration.
Questions about middle school forms? Contact Shannon Campbell at SLCampbell@fcps.edu. Questions about high school forms? Contact your high school's athletics office.
Library Updates
School Library Month was a fantastic success! There were some great discussions and contests on Schoology, a wonderful author visit and evening Family Book Club with Stuart Gibbs, a successful Poetry Palooza with English 8, enlightening AI professional development for staff, students making buttons and magnets, and more! All of the student and staff participation in School Library Month activities makes clear that our school community values and enjoys our library in many ways.
April brought some professional growth for me, including the spring professional development hosted by FCPS Library Services. We discussed many topics including the ethics and impact of AI in education and Universal Design for Learning. I also co-led sessions on creating a safe, welcoming library for all. Finally, I was honored to be recognized by the FCPS School Board for recently achieving National Board Certification in Library Media. This certification is hailed as the gold standard for excellence in teaching, learning, assessing student work, and impact of the school library on students’ personal and academic growth. I am proud to be a librarian leader, both in FCPS and on the national level.
May Updates: The school year is quickly coming to a close! All library books need to be returned by May 29. I will be visiting with students soon in their English class to remind them of any books they have checked out. If your student can’t find their library book, please contact me to arrange replacement. (ragrover@fcps.edu) More coming soon!
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.
Save the Date for our Annual 8th Grade End of Year Party! Suggested attire is semi-formal
Sign up here to donate items and/or volunteer
After-School Program Information
Schedule for the week of 5/6
Important Program Information:
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Mark your calendar - there will be no after-school activities and no late buses on 5/24. The last day of late buses and activities for the school year will be Thursday, 5/30.
- 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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