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1. Important Dates
October 10 - No After-School Program (all students depart at 2:15 PM)
October 13 - Staff Development Day - No School for Students
October 15 - Family Learning Walks, 7:45-8:45 AM
October 17 - No After-School Program (all students depart at 2:15 PM)
October 20 - Diwali - School & Office Closed
October 24 - PTA Trunk or Treat, 5 - 7 PM
October 31 - End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release (students depart at 12:15 PM)
November 3-4 - No School for Students
November 5 - Fall Family Night, 5:30-7 PM
November 5-6 - Fall Pictures (through students' PE classes)
2. A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Families-
We had another great week (and busy week) of learning at Rocky Run. By far the highlight of my week was popping into math classes and watching teachers utilize station rotations as an instructional method to increase student engagement, discussion and reflection. Be sure to ask your students about this strategy used by many teachers at RRMS.
I also REALLY enjoyed participating in our Mentor Kickoff and Military Connected Welcome events. These groups will meet throughout the year to foster community within our school, based on connection and share experiences. Thanks to all the staff members that helped to organize two amazing kick-offs.
On Friday, I had an absolute blast riding in the Chantilly HS Homecoming parade with the other principals from the pyramid. It was energizing to see so many students and families lining the parade route, in celebration of the Chantilly pyramid. This is truly a special place to learn, work and raise a family. Also- sorry for the sugar-high that many students experienced due to the amount of candy I threw from the parade!
Looking ahead, Indigenous Peoples' Day will be celebrated on Monday, October 13. This holiday honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of indigenous peoples, past and present. Students will enjoy a three-day weekend, while staff members participate in a day of professional development (and retirement recognition ceremony for Mr. Raecke and Ms. Bartling who will officially retire from FCPS on 10/31). While students are enjoying the three-day weekend, I encourage them to spend some time thinking and examining one of the more than 2000 tribal groups that are indigenous to North America. Each one has a unique culture and way of life that span history up to and including present day.
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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Please join us for Family Learning Walks on Wednesday, October 15 from 7:45-8:45am! This is an opportunity to visit during the school day and see our amazing students and teachers in action! You'll hear about our initiatives for the year, visit classrooms, and have a chance to share your feedback! We hope to see you there! Let us know you're coming here!
- Rocky Run’s annual Day of Service will be held on October 31. This is a memorable and meaningful day for ALL students, and community support is needed to make it a success. Please click here to see how you can support your child and all Rocky Run students in giving back to their community and earning 5 of their required service hours.
No Cost Meals Available for Students on October 13 at Select Schools
FCPS will be offering lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Monday, October 13, at participating schools. As a reminder, all FCPS schools will be closed for students on October 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. View a list of school sites that will be providing meals for children on October 13.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Lunch and a snack will be served together from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Meals must be eaten on site at participating schools.
- Enrichment activities will be available for children. Participation is encouraged but not required.
- Only children 18 and under may receive meals.
- Each child may receive one lunch and one snack.
We are proud to support our students’ health and well-being, even on days when school is not in session. We hope that many of our families will take advantage of this opportunity. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.
Save the Date for Fall Family Night
Please join us for Fall Family Night on Wednesday, November 5 from 5:30-7:00pm. All families, adults and students, are welcome!
Sessions include:
- How to Help Your Student with Technology Use and Misuse
- Preview of 7th and 8th Grade Advising
- Math Sequence (7-12) Presentation
- Sneak Peek at High School Programming
We hope to see you there!
4. Student Celebrations
RAISE the Ram Card Winners
At Rocky Run, students can earn RAISE the Ram cards for exhibiting our RAISE attributes: Rams are Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged. At the end of each week, we randomly select one winner from each team.
Congratulations to this week's RAISE the Ram card winners:
Meteors: Jillian Mauck (Engaged)
Platinum: Xander Meadows (Accountable)
Emerald: Brayden Smoot (Accountable)
Kryptonite: Priya Sanapuji (Engaged)
Tiger's Eye: Mikey Ross (Engaged)
Sapphire: Azan Hamid (Respectful and Inclusive)
Great job Raising The Ram this week!
Punctual on Purpose (PoP) Student Winners
Each week, we randomy select one student from each team who had zero tardies during the previous week! This week's PoP winners were:
Meteors: Jacob Cuti
Platinum: Liaq Altaf
Emerald: Kasim Atwa
Kryptonite: Anisha Marrapu
Tiger's Eye: Ella Corliss
Sapphire: Meryem Dilsiz
5. Student Services Updates
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener
All students in grades 3-12 have the opportunity to participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. The SEL Screener elevates the voices of our students by making sure their perspectives are considered in decision-making. For more information about the SEL Screener, including the Screener questions, please visit the FCPS Website.
Rocky Run Middle School will give the Fall 2025 SEL Screener on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. If you DO NOT want your child to participate in the SEL Screener please make sure you’ve opted out of the SEL Screener in the Digital Consent System. Log in with your SIS Parent username and password. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s counselor.
World Language Credit By Exam
Students who are proficient in a language other than English can assess language proficiency and earn up to 3 high school world language high school credits by taking the World Language Credit by Exam assessment. To learn more about the exam and how earned credits work, please visit the FCPS World Languages Credit by Exam website.
If you and your student would like to register for the exam, please fill out this Google Form and your child’s counselor will submit the registration. Expect to receive a registration confirmation email within 1-2 school days of submitting the form.
Please make sure you and your child visit the Avant website to make sure you and your student know what to expect from this test, including sample tests and keyboard, computer, and headphone requirements. Please contact your child’s school counselor if you have any questions.
Opportunity for Future Centreville Students
October 14 - PTSA Meeting, “Thriving at CVHS” Student Panel: The Centreville High School PTSA invites you to their next meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM in the Centreville High School Library for a special student panel, "Thriving at Centreville High." Hear directly from current juniors and seniors as they share their unique journeys and tips for making high school both successful and enjoyable. As a future Wildcat, this panel is a great opportunity to gain insight, ask questions, and feel inspired. All students and families are welcome!
6. Instructional Updates
💻 All Families Opted in to Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report
FCPS provides families with a free service that allows parents and caregivers a way to stay informed about their child's online activity on any FCPS device. Starting Sunday, October 12, all parents and guardians who have access to student records in SIS ParentVUE will be automatically enrolled to receive a weekly Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report.
This report provides a summary of the websites your child visited during the previous week and is delivered every Sunday to your email directly from Lightspeed, our internet content filter.
Each weekly report also includes a link to register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides more detailed browsing information. This portal also gives you the ability to pause internet access on your child’s FCPS laptop during non-school hours, such as dinner or bedtime.
Visit the Lightspeed Parent Report page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Library Happenings
This week, Mrs. DeRusso’s and Ms. Tatis-Phan’s Spanish 2 classes visited the library for a two-part lesson on learning about famous Hispanic Americans for Hispanic Heritage Month. Students worked in groups to comb through articles, biographies, and picture books and prioritized information they thought their classmates would find interesting about the person. Then, they worked together in groups to create colorful visuals to teach others about their famous person. Students have been actively engaged in their learning, doing research using multiple sources, working with others, and delegating tasks. It has been wonderful to watch students learn more about Hispanic Americans and continue to develop skills for collaborating with each other.
October is also Fall Candy Madness! This special event is similar to March Madness but with favorite candies! Each week, students vote for their favorite candies in each round. By the end of October, we will crown Rocky Run’s favorite candy! How is this instructional, or library related? Students are using critical thinking skills, thinking about the merits of each candy, and making their own decisions. Students can chat with each other or their teachers about their votes, using persuasion and active listening skills. Finally, students are learning sportsmanship and how it’s okay to celebrate when our favorites are picked – and how to respond when they are not. Fall Candy Madness is our biggest event of the year and it is well underway this week! Ask your student about the candies they voted for. See if they can give you reasons for their thoughts, too!
Webinar Offerings for Parents
Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia: October 15, 10-11:30 a.m.
- Join us for an informative webinar on Dyslexia Awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.
- What You'll Learn:
- Understanding Dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
- FCPS Support Systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
- Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS's Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
- Resources for Families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.
- This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.
- Register here
Reading Plans and Your Student: October 22, 10-11:30 a.m.
- This 1.5-hour webinar is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:
- What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
- Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
- How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
- Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.
- Register here
Day of Service
- Rocky Run’s annual Day of Service will be held on Friday October 31, 2025. All Rocky Run 7th and 8th grade students will participate in various service-learning opportunities. 8th grade students will get to pack meals with Rise Against Hunger. In order to give back with Rise Against Hunger, the 8th grade class will raise $8,400. This money goes directly to providing and shipping meals to those experiencing food insecurities. We will seek donations from companies to support us – shout out to Tony Saa at Weichert Realtors for the generous donation – but also need support from each family in the community.
- Parent volunteers and other donations are needed: Click Here to volunteer!
Advanced Academic Program Fall Screening
Students who are new to FCPS as of January 1, 2025 may go through Fall screening for full-time AAP services. Referrals are due no later than October 15, 2025. Please contact Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher Anna Slevin (agslevin@fcps.edu) for more information.
7. After School Program Information
After-School Schedule for the week of 10/13
- Note - there are no after-school activities on Friday, 10/17 - all students should depart at the 2:15 dismissal
Current after-school club offerings
- AMC 10 Math Competition will be hosted on 11/13 for current RRMS students who are enrolled in Geometry or Algebra II. Spaces are limited and registration will open on 10/16 at 4 PM. Students must be logged in to their fcpsschools account to access this registration form when it opens on 10/17. More information can be found here. We will host the AMC 8 Math Competition and that will be open to all RRMS students, regardless of which math class they are enrolled in.
- More clubs will be added throughout the year so check back frequently.
- Student Club Proposal form is live on Schoology for students to submit ideas for new clubs.
Review the late bus routes that are posted on the After-School Schoology Course
For now, here are some steps to complete:
- Review this general After-School Information.
- ALL families must complete the After-School Consent Form (via the Parent Digital Consent System). Students cannot stay after until this is submitted. Almost all of our Rocky Run students will stay after at some point this year, so please make sure the form is completed ASAP so your student has the flexibility to participate.
- If your student is interested in any of the following sports activities this year, they will need to submit an Athletic Physical Packet. A portion of this must be completed by a health care professional so do not delay working on this! More details on interest meetings, practice dates, game dates, etc. will be provided in advance of a sign-up or tryout.
- Fall Cross Country
- Spring Track & Field
Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu.
Fall Cross Country Team
Fall 2025 Cross-Country is open for registration. There are 3 required forms for your student to be eligible to participate:
- After-School Consent Form
- Middle School Sports Physical Packet
-
FCPS Cross Country Registration
Please review these slides, which were shared with students at the interest meeting on 9/10. All practice and meet dates/times are included, along with important team information.
Please stay tuned regarding a parent information Zoom meeting. If you have questions, please contact the Katy Speir, Athletic Coordinator (krspeir@fcps.edu).
8. Community Corner
Calling All Parents for Trunk or Treat!
We need your help to make the PTA's first Trunk-or-Treat unforgettable! Volunteer to decorate a trunk and hand out treats on Friday, Oct 24. Candy is provided. You could win a Visa gift card for Best Trunk and/or Best Costume. Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/4s6w4dvh
Westfield High School Fall Play
Westfield High School Theatre Presents
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic (Two Act for Young Wizards) by Matt Cox
October 16, 17, 18 at 7pm and October 18 at 2pm
Perfect for all ages!
Tickets: $15 adult, $10 student. All seats reserved. All info found at www.westfieldtheatre.com
Westfield HS Dance Team Clinic
See the flyer below for details and use this version for clickable links.
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