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1. Important Dates
August 31 - Cross Country Team Student Interest Meeting, during all lunch periods
September 3 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm
September 4 - No School
September 7 - No School
September 14 - After-School Program & Late Buses Begin
2. A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Families,
I hope that you have enjoyed your summer vacation and are looking forward to the new school year. Staff and teachers have been busy planning for your return and working hard to make sure the school year is filled with exciting and engaging learning opportunities. It was energizing to see so many of you at Rams Rally this past Thursday!
We are excited to welcome all of our students and parents to Rocky Run Middle School on Monday! I encourage you to visit the school website at https://rockyrunms.fcps.edu, where you can find helpful information including the bell schedule, calendar, blue/gold calendar, and more.
This year, we will welcome over 950 students to RRMS. The vibrant culture of the school will be evident as we return our amazing students to learning and school activities. We will emphasize building relationships and cultivating a sense of belonging. We will continue implementing a sound instructional program, including an emphasis on student engagement in the classroom. We will have a focus on ensuring regular school attendance and positive approaches to student behavior and school climate. We strive to ensure a positive school culture where students thrive and enjoy learning at RRMS, and we will work hard to make sure all students are successful.
The first day of school is Monday, August 24, and will be a Blue Day. Transportation information was communicated directly to families last week. If you opt to use the Kiss and Ride, please take a few minutes to watch this video to familiarize yourself with our procedures. The weather on Monday will be nice, so I hope that many students take the opportunity to walk or bike to school.
Students will rotate through periods 1, 3, 5, and 7. School hours for students are 7:30am – 2:15pm. Students may enter the building starting at 7:05am and will proceed through our Open Gate. Please take a few minutes to watch this video for tips on Open Gate. Prior to walking through the towers, students will be asked to remove all three-ring binders, umbrellas and (eventually) laptops due to the fact that those items set off the towers. They will hand these items to the staff member near the tower. We advise students to wear their backpacks on the front of their bodies (kangaroo style) when moving through the towers. We recommend that all families speak with their students about these procedures and reference the FAQs.
Once through the towers, 1st period locations will be posted in the main hallway and official schedules will be distributed in 1st period. Schedules are also available in SIS. Students can carry backpacks throughout the day, and laptops will be distributed during the first week of school.
Back to School Night will take place on Thursday, September 3, beginning at 6:00pm. I highly encourage all parents to attend Back to School Night as this is a great opportunity for us to build community in the school and for you to connect with teachers and other parents.
I look forward to meeting members of the community, so please do not hesitate to say hello when you see me at school events. A strong connection between the school and family is critical to student success, and we are committed to that connection. If you have questions, please contact your student’s counselor, teachers, or administrative staff throughout the year. Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! It is going to be a great year!
Sincerely,
Peter Kownacki
Principal
Rocky Run Middle School
3. Action Items for Families
- Please make sure the enrolling parent in your family has a SIS ParentVUE account. If you do not have access to ParentVUE, please contact our Student Services Assistant, Kelly Brown at klbrown4@fcps.edu.
- Complete the digital consent forms for your child. You will use your ParentVUE username and password to login to the Parent Digital Consent. Here you will provide consent for your child to use many of our digital resources and give your permission for retakes of state assessments. In addition, you have the option to opt your child out of various things such as Family Life Education and SEL Screener participation.
Thank you for your help in getting these done!
Join the PTA. Make a Difference.
Your membership helps make RRMS a great place to learn and grow! Membership dues help fund programs and events that enrich our students' experience, including Teacher Appreciation, Career Day, the 8th Grade Celebration, author visits, and more. There is no commitment to volunteer, but we welcome volunteers to help us plan fun events for the Rams community! Join us September 10 in the library or on Zoom for our first PTA meeting and a meet-and-greet with Principal Kownacki.
This year's special fundraising goal: Bring back an author visit for our students! Join the PTA, and if you’re able, add a donation to help us fund the cost of this event. We also welcome business donations if your company can help sponsor our community events or even match the cost of your membership/donation.
👉 Join the PTA here!
PTA Spirit Wear Store
The PTA Spirit Wear store is now open! Browse some of our most popular designs in many colors and sizes at the Spirit Wear store. Items can ship to school or your home. Hurry! The store closes on August 31. All proceeds benefit the Rocky Run PTA, who supports many programs and events at Rocky Run.
Library Volunteers Needed
Want to make a difference in our library? Mrs. Grover is looking for adult volunteers to help in the library doing a variety of tasks. If you are interested, please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form. Training will be next week. Questions? Email Mrs. Grover (ragrover@fcps.edu) with any questions.
4. Student Celebrations
We loved seeing all of our Rams yesterday at Rams Rally, and we can't WAIT to see you on Monday!
5. Student Services Updates
Back to School Night
We invite our families to join us for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 3, from 6-8pm. You will be able to walk through your student's schedule, meet teachers, and learn about curriculum!
Parking is limited, so please walk or carpool if possible! We look forward to seeing you there!
6. Instructional Updates
Student Schedules
All students should be able to view their schedules in Student Vue. If you cannot, please do not worry- each student will receive a copy of their schedule in first period on Monday, and we will have plenty of adults ready to help students find and get to their first period class on day 1!
7. After School Program Information
Rocky Run MS offers after-school activities every Monday through Friday until 5:00 PM all school year long.
Whether your student wants to join sports, get help with homework, create and compete in STEM clubs, play video games, or attend special events—there is something for everyone!
Key Highlights:
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Programs Start on 9/14: Running Monday–Friday until 5:00 PM.
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Bus Transportation: Available 4 days a week (Mondays - Thursdays).
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Full Schedule & Details: View specific program information on our After-School Schoology Course (coming soon!) and the Rocky Run website by September 11.
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Action Needed: Click Here to Complete the Registration Form
Even if your student isn't sure they want to participate right away, we strongly encourage every family to complete the registration form now.
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No obligation: Registering does not require your child to attend.
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Be prepared: Completing this form ensures your student is cleared to join in on any activity, any time during the school year!
MS Sports - Cross Country in the Fall
In addition to the After-School Program, all middle schools in Fairfax County have interscholastic sports activities. Currently we have Cross Country in the Fall, Track & Field in the Spring, and we may have the opportunity for additional sport activities. These require additional paperwork and a sports physical.
Students and parents will need to complete several steps prior to participating in middle school sports, including:
- A completed FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). In the near future, you will receive an email from Final Forms with information on how to electronically submit your physical packet. Watch for that in your inbox! The packet must be submitted before any kind of participation, including tryouts or practice as a member of any school Interscholastic competitive athletic team.
- Each student-athlete and a parent/guardian will complete a registration process on Final Forms that includes the state-mandated concussion education program and Emergency Care Card information before the student participates in middle school sports.
- Any student participating in voluntary after school athletic programs, must have medical/accident insurance. Families may choose to purchase student accident coverage, serviced by K&K Insurance Group Inc. To satisfy this requirement.
- Each student-athlete and a parent/guardian will review the FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Health Education Program prior to the student’s participation in middle school athletic activities.
For more information on FCPS Middle School Sports, go to the Student Athlete page of the FCPS website. or contact Shannon Campbell.
Questions? Reach out to Shannon Campbell, our After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu.
8. Community Corner
FCPS Updates for Families
New Student Device Requirement
Starting this school year, students may only use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices.
Students may only use a personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device.
Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies.
New Student ID Cards and Bus Navigation System
FCPS is launching a new bus navigation system, which includes student ID cards for students who ride the bus. Students will use the cards to tap on and off the bus, helping FCPS and families know exactly which students are riding which buses.
Learn more about the new system and how it will improve route efficiency, safety, and transparency with families. Check out the frequently asked questions for families.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Get Ready for Day One With the FCPS App!
- Learn About School Meals
- Managing Technology at Home
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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