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1. Important Dates
October 26 - Cross Country Championship Meet, Liberty MS
October 29-30 - Hearing and Vision Screenings (7th Grade, PE Classes)
October 31 - Day of Service, End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release, No After-School Program
November 1 - No School (Holiday- Diwali, All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos)
November 4-5 - No School
November 7 - Fall Family Night, 5 - 6:30 PM & PTA Event with Dr. Reid, 6:30 PM
November 8 - Veteran's Day Breakfast, 8 AM
November 11 - No School (Veteran's Day)
2. A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Families-
It’s hard to believe that this is the final week of the first quarter. Time has flown by! To celebrate the end of a successful first quarter, Rocky Run's Student Council Association has organized a spirit week. On Monday, we encourage students to wear black. Tuesday is the VERY popular "Anything But a Backpack Day". Wednesday is Costume Day (please be mindful that costumes must be school appropriate and follow the guidelines set forth in the SRR (no face or head coverings). And wrapping up the week, Thursday is Jersey/RRMS Spirit Wear.
Thursday is also a two-hour early release to mark the end of the quarter. All Rocky Run students will be participating in a day of service, to give back to the community and earn five hours of service to that can be applied to various initiatives (NJHS, Civics requirements, etc). Our students and staff are VERY excited about participating in this worth-while event. As part of the Day of Service, all 8th graders will pack meals for Rise Against Hunger. In order to bring food for the students to pack, Rocky Run must raise money to pay for the costs associated with the project. As of Friday, we are still a little short on the fundraising goal. There's still time to donate to the Rise Against Hunger event using this LINK.
Friday, November 1 is a holiday for all students and staff in recognition of Diwali and All Saints Day/Dia de los Muertos. We wish a fun Diwali to all celebrating! Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs & some Buddhists. The festival represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. For Catholics, All Saints Day (November 1) celebrates all those who are with God in Heaven, known and unknown. All Souls Day (November 2), known in Mexico and Latin America as Día de los Muertos, is a day of remembrance and prayer for all those who have died, especially for the souls who may be in purgatory. These special days are celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants throughout the world. Additionally, all FCPS schools will be closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday.
Finally, as we approach the end of quarter, please touch base with your student about assignments in each of their classes. Even though we encourage student self-advocacy and accountability, it's always good to check progress through SIS ParentVUE at the end of the quarter.
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
3. Action Items for Families
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Plan to attend our Fall Family Night on November 7! RSVP here to let us know you are coming!
- The end of the quarter is next week! Please check with your student to see if they have any library books to return or renew. Next week, overdue notices will be sent to students’ fcpsschools email address. Email Mrs. Grover, RRMS librarian, with questions about library books.
- Make a direct donation to the 8th grade event with Rise Against Hunger and/or sign-up to donate other items needed for the Day of Service and be entered to win a $50 gift card to Bonefish Grill. Drawing will be October 18 - donate now!
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Hearing and Vision Screening volunteers needed for October 29 and 30. Sign up here.
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Next week is SPIRIT WEEK!
Monday: Black Out (wear all black)
Tuesday: Anything But a Backpack (Students bring their things to school in something other than a backpack)
Wednesday: Halloween Costume (Following SR&R no face coverings or anything that looks like a weapon)
Thursday: Team Jersey or Rocky Run Spirit Wear (This is also Day of Service and 2 hour early release
Friday: School Holiday
4. Student Celebrations
RAISE the Ram Card Winners
Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:
Sarah Chenzaie (Engaged)
Pranav Nandula (Engaged)
John Blinder (Accountable)
Carlie Gurson (Engaged)
Rayan Basalaki (Engaged)
Eve Sokolinski (Engaged)
Great job Raising the Ram!
 Punctual on Purpose Student Winners
We recently began our Punctual on Purpose (POP!) drawing to recognize students who are on-time to all classes during the prior week. Each week, students have a fresh chance to be entered into the POP drawing. POP winners are announced every Monday, and students can select from a variety of rewards. Please encourage your child to be on time to all classes, including 1st and 2nd period. This week's POP winners are Ethan Phillips, Henry Kaufmann, Annalyn Plaugher, Jayden Xun, Amiyah Humphrey, and Tyler Regan. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!
5. Student Services Updates
 RRMS Celebrates our Veterans!
Family members of RRMS students who have served or are currently serving in the military are invited to join us for an honorary breakfast on Friday, November 8th from 8:00-8:45am. After breakfast, veterans have the opportunity to briefly visit their student’s 2nd period class (optional). If you would like to join us, please complete this form by Monday, November 4th. Email Lorraine Marshall (ljmarshall@fcps.edu) with questions.
 Please Join Us- Rocky Run Fall Family Night
All Rocky Run families (adults and students) are invited to join us for our Fall Family Night on Thursday, November 7! From 5:00-6:30pm, we will have breakout sessions on the following topics:
- Helping your student get (and stay!) organized
- Navigating the FCPS math sequence
- Understanding the rolling gradebook & middle school grading policies
- Unpacking the Power of Words and exploring the concept of Intent vs. Impact
From 6:30-7:30, we will have a Q&A session with Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS Superintendent. We welcome all families in the Chantilly pyramid to join us to meet Dr. Reid and get your questions answered!
Please RSVP to help us better prepare for the event. RSVPs are NOT required to attend, they are just helpful for our planning! We hope to see you there!
The Federal Impact Aid Survey
The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify: Military families, Federally connected families and Families living on a military base. Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the enrolling parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form by logging in to your SIS ParentVUE account. For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
7th Grade Wellness Screening
All middle and high schools in FCPS teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. All schools use an evidence-based program called Signs of Suicide (SOS). During the lesson, students learn:
- That depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help.
- How to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend.
- To ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend.
- Who they can turn to at school for help if they need it.
At Rocky Run Middle School, the SOS lesson and accompanying screening will occur on Monday, November 18, 2024 during Rock Time. We recognize that you may have opted your child out of this screener through the Parent Digital Consent tool. If you did not complete opt out using the parent portal and would still like to do so you can OPT OUT (meaning you child will not participate in the screener) by completing the Google Form: https://forms.gle/t7kue3aKtCt1zWMp7.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school counselor listed below and/or Young Hong, Director of Student Services at yjhong@fcps.edu.
8th Grade Fairfax County Youth Survey
Rocky Run Middle School will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey to all 8th graders on Monday, November 18th during Rock Time classes. The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people.
If you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please complete the form linked here and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 8, 2024. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information to the school counselor.
6. Instructional Updates
Day of Service
Learn about Rocky Run’s Day of Service here. This year’s Day of Service will take place on October 31, 2024.
Families can support Rocky Run’s Day of Service in multiple ways:
(This link is only for donations, our 8th grade students are our volunteers and they will all participate throughout the morning. If you would like to help us by volunteering on our Day of Service please use this Google Form)
- Sign up to donate supplies needed for service projects during the Day of Service here
- Sign up to help us on the Day of Service here
- If you are connected to an organization or have an idea of how our students can give back to the community on October 31, please reach out to Anna Slevin at agslevin@fcps.edu
Any donations made before October 18 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card to Bonefish Grill!
Outstanding Employee Awards
Let someone at Rocky Run know how outstanding they are!
Anyone can nominate a Rocky Run teacher or staff member for an FCPS Outstanding Employee award. Nominations are now open! You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category). All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a few sentences about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. Check out our website for more information and links to nominate staff members!
7. After-School Program Information
- Schedule for the week of 10/28
- Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these upcoming dates - 10/31, 11/8, 11/25, 11/26, 12/20
- Late buses will depart Monday - Thursday between 4:45 - 5:00 PM. Routes differ from regular AM/PM buses as there are fewer late buses and fewer stops. Routes are posted on the After-School Schoology Course. Please make sure your student knows their late bus number prior to staying after.
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Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
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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.
- Program updates, announcements, and schedules are posted on the After-School Schoology Course - all families have been added.
- Check out our Program Preview for information on program times, pick-up, etc.
After-School Program Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu
8. Community Corner
Free Theatre Workshop for Grades 4-8
Westfield Theatre is offering a FREE workshop on Friday, November 1st at Westfield HS from 10am-12pm!
Students in 4th-8th grades can join us for fun theatre games, snacks and a backstage tour. Space is limited - click here to register!
Chantilly High School Haunted House Event – Saturday, 10/26
Mark your calendar for one of our local area’s favorite fall events - the Chantilly High School Haunted House! Along with the Haunted House, there will be games, face painting, and refreshments for sale. Proceeds benefit the Chargers Field Hockey, Girls Soccer & Girls Lacrosse programs. Tickets are $10 in advance ($15 at the door). To order your tickets, use the QR code or log on to www.CHSHauntedHouse.com
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