FCPS

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1. Important Dates

December 20 - No After-School (all students depart at 2:15 PM)

December 23 - January 3 - No School (Winter Break), school offices closed except by appointment                                    

January 8 - Rising 9th Grade High School Counselor Presentations, Rock Time

January 9 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library

January 16 - Spring Track & Field Student Interest Meeting, 5th period lunches

January 20 - No School (Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday & Inauguration Day)

January 28 - End of 2nd Quarter 

January 29 - No School (Teacher Workday)

January 30 - Team Celebrations

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

This week, at our staff meeting we recognized each staff member that received a nomination, and announced the school-based winners for the FCPS Excellence Awards. Congratulations to each of these Rams, as they move onto the next level of the competition.

RRMS Excellence Award Winners:

• Outstanding Teacher: Luke Williams, Physical Science Teacher
• Outstanding New Teacher: Monica Tatis-Phan, Spanish Teacher
• Outstanding Leader:  Johnelle Sweet, Assistant Principal
• Outstanding Professional Employee:  Anna Slevin, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher
• Outstanding Operational Employee: Carol Cutler, Office Assistant

Our hope is that each of these amazing Rams will move on in the process to represent the entire Chantilly pyramid of schools. As we work to submit the nomination packet for each of these deserving employees, we would love your feedback. Please consider submitting this FORM by January 6 to assist us in the process.

On behalf of the entire RRMS faculty and staff, I wish all of you Happy Holidays and a restful winter break! We earned these two weeks. Use the time wisely- read books, play games, binge television shows, spend time with family and loved ones. Rocky Run's main office will be closed during winter break. We look forward to welcoming the Ram community back to school on Monday, January 6 (Blue 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 Rams in Good Standing Expectations

On Thursday, January 30th, Rocky Run will host team celebrations to mark the end of first semester and kick-off the beginning of second semester. All students who are considered “Rams in Good Standing” will be invited to their team’s celebration. Our goal is for all students to attend!

To attend their team’s party, students must meet the following criteria for the month of January (January 6th - 29th):

• Be on time to all classes, including 1st and 2nd period 
• Your child’s attendance, including tardies, can be checked in ParentVUE under “Attendance”
• Consistently meet schoolwide expectations (no discipline referrals or cell phone/earbud violations)

Students have been notified of the “Rams in Good Standing” criteria via Rock Time, morning announcements, and Schoology. Students who are ineligible to attend their team’s party will participate in an alternative activity to refresh their understanding of schoolwide expectations and set goals for second semester. Please encourage your child to be a Ram in Good Standing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s grade level administrator.

4. Student Celebrations December Rams on a Roll

Each month, teams identify two students who have exemplified our RAISE attributes throughout the month by being Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged. These students are consistently Raising the Ram both in and out of the classroom! Congratulations to our Rams on a Roll for December:

Team Emerald: Thomas DiDomenico and Anosha Wahidi

Team Meteors: Braedyn Brown and Meryem Dilsiz

Team Platinum: Keshav Navin and Elaine Won

Team Kryptonite: Avani Gandikota and Charles Gurson

Team Sapphire: Denise Alvarado Garcia and Iam Suarez Carrillo

Team Tigers Eye: Kitty Tatman-Tyree and Jacob Thacker

RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Wyatt Ogle (Engaged)

Elaine Won (Respectful and Inclusive)

Jamie Aguilar Alvarado (Engaged)

Lauren Park (Engaged)

Layla Fletcher (Engaged)

Dakota Franks (Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged)

Great job Raising the Ram!

Punctual on Purpose Student Winners

Each week, our Punctual on Purpose (POP!) drawing recognizes 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 Meryem Dilsiz, Christian Ra, Lucas Salguero Mencia, Tanusree Medi, Erin Kirby, and Alan Rawe. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates Academic Advising is Fast Approaching!

Please check our Academic Advising website for more detailed information. Important dates are highlighted below:

Information for Current 8th Grade (Rising 9th) Families

Plan to Attend Your High School's Curriculum Night

Chantilly HS: January 8, 6:00-8:00pm

Centreville HS: January 15, 6:30pm

Westfield HS: January 8, 6:30-8:00pm

Robinson SS: January 15, 5:00-8:00pm

Wednesday, 1/8 - HS Counselors Visit Rocky

Counselors from Chantilly, Centreville and Westfields High Schools will be visiting Rocky Run and sharing about 9th grade course selection and high school student life

Monday, 1/13 - Friday 1/31 - Individual Academic Advising

Rocky Run Counselors will meet one-on-one with all 8th graders to go over courses, electives and make sure all classes have been entered correctly in SIS. 

Thursday, 1/23 - Academic Advising Virtual Parent Coffee

Rocky Run Student Services will host a virtual meeting to present information and answer any questions from parents about choosing courses and electives for their child's high school. Stay tuned for more information.

Information for Current 7th Grade (Rising 8th) Families

Monday 2/3 - Friday 2/21 - Academic Advising

Rock Run counselors will meet with each 7th grader individually to discuss courses and confirm all classes have been entered in SIS correctly. More information will be shared in January. 

6. Instructional Updates Performing Arts Concert

Thanks to our amazing performing arts department for putting together a great winter concert for students during Rock Time this week! Our Band, Orchestra, and Show Choir students did an amazing job!

Band students playing at the winter concert

Orchestra students playing at the winter concert

Show Choir strikes a pose!

7. After-School Program Information

• After-School Schedule: Week of 1/6
• AMC 8 Math Competition registration is still open.   Details and the sign-up form are on Schoology and must be accessed via your student's fcpsschools account.  Spaces are limited! 
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 12/20, 1/16, 1/17, 2/14, 4/11, 5/23
• Spring Track and Field Student Interest Meeting will be held during lunch periods on Thursday, 1/16, in the Lecture Hall.  If your student is interested in learning more about our team, they should plan on attending.
• 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

Spelling Bee Coming Soon!

If your student is a good speller, encourage them to join the Spelling Bee! The study word list is now available in the library and you can start studying over winter break. All students who want to participate must attend one practice session either during Rock Time or after school in order to qualify. Contact Mrs. Grover ([email protected]) with any questions.

Practice dates:

January 9, First session after school (2:30pm)

January 10: Rock Time (9:10am)

January 15: Second session after school (3:20pm)

Spelling Bee Dates:

January 23: Written test during Rock Time (snow date January 27)

February 15: Top 15 scores move on to the speaking round

8. Community Corner

No updates this week!

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
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Welcome to the RRMS PTA Newsletter Upcoming Events

Teacher & Staff Welcome Back Breakfast, Friday, January 10: Help us welcome our teachers and staff back in style after the holidays with a special breakfast!

Donations Needed:  Click here to sign up and donate.

Drop-off: at school front office on 1/8 - 1/9

 

🎉 Spirit Night Fundraisers Begin in January! Starting next month, we’ll host monthly Spirit Night Fundraisers at local businesses to bring our community together and support the school.

Thursday, January 16 (all day) Mod Pizza, Greenbriar Shopping Center

Join us for a delicious meal and help make a difference

 

💖 Valentine’s Day Dance: For the first time ever, the RRMS PTA will sponsor a school Valentine’s Day Dance! It is scheduled for Thursday, February 13 from 2:30 to 4:30. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to February.

Don't Miss Out! Order Your RR Spirit Wear Today!

Stay cozy and stylish with our hoodies and T-Shirts, available in four unique designs. Show your spirit and grab yours now before they're gone! Order Here!

Stay Connected

If you have not joined the PTA this year, please do so! Your membership fees help fund author visits, dances, teachers resources, and so much more. We cannot do it without your membership! JOIN NOW!

And as always, please follow us on social media to stay up to day on events, announcements, and ways to get involved!

Find us at Facebook @Rocky Run PTA - Chantilly and Instagram @RockyRunMSPTA

If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to learn more how you can be involved, please email us at [email protected].

Thank you for your ongoing support. Together, we’re making a positive impact on our school community!

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

December 20 - No After-School (all students depart at 2:15 PM)

December 23 - January 3 - No School (Winter Break)

January 8 - Rising 9th Grade High School Counselor Presentations, Rock Time

January 9 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library

January 20 - No School (Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday & Inauguration Day)

January 28 - End of 2nd Quarter 

January 29 - No School (Teacher Workday)

January 30 - Team Celebrations

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

One week to go until Winter Break! I am confident that both students and staff are eagerly counting down in anticipation of the two week break.

I'd like to wish a belated Happy Bodhi Day to Rams that celebrated on December 8. Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. Learn more about Bodhi Day in this video from the Miami Children’s Museum.

For a few days this past week, I was in Denver, Colorado with the other principals in the Chantilly Pyramid, attending the Learning Forward Winter Conference. This year's theme was "Reaching New Heights for Students". It was energizing to learn together to support the K-12 continuum in Chantilly. 

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

• Retake/Makeup day pictures are now online. Families will have received a reminder email to view images from Victor O'Neill Studios. If you do not see your email, please check spam folder. If you need help ordering/viewing contact [email protected]
• Get Your Yearbook Today! Don’t wait to order your student’s copy of the 2025 Rocky Run yearbook!  Buy online now at https://prod.yboc.varsity.com/

         School Code: 5333

         Get Yours While Supplies Last!

Attendance Matters!

Before you take your student out of school for a trip, please consider the impact to your student's attendance and learning!

Did you know...

• Students missing just two days of school experience heightened stress and anxiety.
• Research indicates that increasing attendance by five days annually boosts achievement in Reading, English, and Math.
• Students are dropped from enrollment after fifteen consecutive absences (excused or unexcused).

Thank you for partnering with us to support your student's achievement!

NJHS Toy Drive

Rocky Run’s National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter is excited to announce a Toy Drive, beginning on Monday, December 9th and ending on Saturday, December 14th.  Students are invited to bring in new, unwrapped toys during this time. Donations will be collected in Rock Time classrooms (the 7th and 8th grade Rock Times with the most toys will win donut parties!) or can be dropped in the main office. All toys will be donated to Northern Virginia Family Services, and will be distributed to children in our community throughout the year.

In addition to in-school opportunities, we will hold a collection event on Saturday, December 14th from 9 AM – 2 PM. You can drive up to our front entrance and NJHS members will be there (with a smile!) to collect your donations.

Thank you for your support!

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Evan Storch (Accountable and Engaged)

Kaejuan Marks (Accountable)

Azan Hamid (Accountable and Engaged)

Bhavya Sundeep (Engaged)

Clare Hwang (Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged)

Aiden Kirby (Respectful)

Great job Raising the Ram!

Punctual on Purpose Student Winners

Each week, our Punctual on Purpose (POP!) drawing recognizes 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 Jackson Lightfoot, Cameron Lehman, Erin Kirby, Charles Gurson, Evelyn Quinby, and Sayid Ospino. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates Academic Advising is Fast Approaching!

Please check our Academic Advising website for more detailed information. Important dates are highlighted below:

Information for Current 8th Grade (Rising 9th) Families

Wednesday, 1/8 - HS Counselors Visit Rocky

Counselors from Chantilly, Centreville and Westfields High Schools will be visiting Rocky Run and sharing about 9th grade course selection and high school student life

Monday, 1/13 - Friday 1/31 - Individual Academic Advising

Rocky Run Counselors will meet one-on-one with all 8th graders to go over courses, electives and make sure all classes have been entered correctly in SIS. 

Thursday, 1/23 - Academic Advising Virtual Parent Coffee

Rocky Run Student Services will host a virtual meeting to present information and answer any questions from parents about choosing courses and electives for their child's high school. Stay tuned for more information.

Information for Current 7th Grade (Rising 8th) Families

Monday 2/3 - Friday 2/21 - Academic Advising

Rock Run counselors will meet with each 7th grader individually to discuss courses and confirm all classes have been entered in SIS correctly. More information will be shared in January. 

6. Instructional Updates Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder for Parents

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Anna Slevin ([email protected]) no later than December 15, 2024. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.

AAP Level IV services are available to students in grades 3-8. Students may be found eligible for full-time placement in AAP Level IV Center classes through a central selection process where multiple criteria are reviewed by a central selection committee to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. More information about the screening process as well as an overview of AAP services available at the middle school level may be found here on the FCPS website or families can view this video, AAP Overview of Services. 

If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to AART, Anna Slevin at [email protected].

7. After-School Program Information

• After-School Schedule: Week of 12/16
  • No activities on Friday, 12/20 - all students depart at the 2:15 dimissal
• AMC 8 Math Competition registration is still open.   Details and the sign-up form are on Schoology and must be accessed via your student's fcpsschools account.  Spaces are limited! 
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 12/20, 1/16, 1/17, 2/14, 4/11, 5/23
• 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

Spelling Bee Coming Soon!

If your student is a good speller, encourage them to join the Spelling Bee! The study word list is now available in the library and you can start studying over winter break. All students who want to participate must attend one practice session either during Rock Time or after school in order to qualify. Contact Mrs. Grover ([email protected]) with any questions.

Practice dates:

January 9, First session after school (2:30pm)

January 10: Rock Time (9:10am)

January 15: Second session after school (3:20pm)

Spelling Bee Dates:

January 23: Written test during Rock Time (snow date January 27)

February 15: Top 15 scores move on to the speaking round

8. Community Corner

No updates this week!

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

December 20 - No After-School (all students depart at 2:15 PM)

December 23 - January 3 - No School (Winter Break)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

I hope you enjoyed a restful Thanksgiving break, and prepared yourself for the three week sprint towards winter break! From an educator's (and parent) standpoint, these stretches of school can simultaneously fly by and drag on. I'm sure this year's window will go by quickly because the month of December will be busy here at Rocky Run. This past week, I marveled at the talents of our band and orchestra programs at their annual winter concerts. If you missed out on those amazing performances, I hope to see you on Thursday, December 12 for the chorus concert. There's nothing quite like amazing music to put me in the winter spirit.

This past week, we also held our 7th grade parent coffees. Each of our interdisciplinary teams hosted a separate event to talk about curriculum and team building efforts. It was great to connect with so many families and discuss ways to deepen the school/family two-way partnership. Be on the lookout for additional events throughout the remainder of the year.

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 Attendance Matters!

Before you take your student out of school for a trip, please consider the impact to your student's attendance and learning!

Did you know...

• Students missing just two days of school experience heightened stress and anxiety.
• Research indicates that increasing attendance by five days annually boosts achievement in Reading, English, and Math.
• Students are dropped from enrollment after fifteen consecutive absences (excused or unexcused).

Thank you for partnering with us to support your student's achievement!

Tik-Tok Challenge: Zipper Pulls

We are aware that the latest Tik Tok challenge is leading to students stealing zipper pulls off of backpacks. We want to let you know that we take this seriously and are just as frustrated as some of you are that this is occurring. When this is reported we do what we can to recover and return the pulls and we are aware that, in some cases, damage is occurring to the backpack beyond the removal of the pull. While we continue to work to address this problem at RRMS, we are asking for your help in reinforcing with your student that touching and stealing the property of others is a violation of both the FCPS Students’ Rights and Responsibilities and the RRMS RAISE expectations. Please reach out if you discover that your student has zipper pulls that do not belong to them and we will do our best to get them returned to their owner. If your child has concerns we also encourage them to utilize their locker for safe keeping.

NJHS Toy Drive

Rocky Run’s National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter is excited to announce a Toy Drive, beginning on Monday, December 9th and ending on Saturday, December 14th.  Students are invited to bring in new, unwrapped toys during this time. Donations will be collected in Rock Time classrooms (the 7th and 8th grade Rock Times with the most toys will win donut parties!) or can be dropped in the main office. All toys will be donated to Northern Virginia Family Services, and will be distributed to children in our community throughout the year.

In addition to in-school opportunities, we will hold a collection event on Saturday, December 14th from 9 AM – 2 PM. You can drive up to our front entrance and NJHS members will be there (with a smile!) to collect your donations.

Thank you for your support!

4. Student Celebrations November Rams on a Roll

Each month, teams identify two students who have exemplified our RAISE attributes throughout the month by being Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged. These students are consistently Raising the Ram both in and out of the classroom! Congratulations to our Rams on a Roll for November:

Team Emerald: Grayson McCarthy and Sanah Panda

Team Meteors: Evan Storch and Audrey Wolff

Team Platinum: Lucas Carnow and Aila Khan

Team Kryptonite: Meadow DeMille and Frankie Slevin

Team Sapphire: Alex Booker and Lilian Cardoza Reyes

Team Tigers Eye: Charlotte Crown and Molly Smith

RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Parvathi Hari (Engaged)

Tyla Pollard (Accountable)

Lilya Basalaki (Engaged)

Ryan Irudhayarajan (Inclusive and Engaged)

Gabriel Rusu (Engaged)

Ana Munoz (Safe)

Great job Raising the Ram!

Punctual on Purpose Student Winners

Each week, our Punctual on Purpose (POP!) drawing recognizes 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 Aarav Dwivedi, Amorin Saldana, Juzer Faizullabhoy, Sophie Kim, Sorayah Lemarhi, and Gloria Peña Peña. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to your child’s counselor with any questions.

6. Instructional Updates Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder for Parents

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Anna Slevin ([email protected]) no later than December 15, 2024. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.

AAP Level IV services are available to students in grades 3-8. Students may be found eligible for full-time placement in AAP Level IV Center classes through a central selection process where multiple criteria are reviewed by a central selection committee to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. More information about the screening process as well as an overview of AAP services available at the middle school level may be found here on the FCPS website or families can view this video, AAP Overview of Services. 

If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to AART, Anna Slevin at [email protected].

Library Updates

On Friday, FCPS School Board members Sandy Anderson and Kyle McDaniel visited the Rocky Run Library, its two makerspaces (the Inspiration Studio and Tech Den), and took a tour of the school. Some of the Student Library Advisory Team showed them around the library space, answered questions, and discussed the ways the library supports and celebrates all students. Some favorite parts of the library included the games area, the monthly displays and activities, and of course, the books! It was a pleasure to share with Ms. Anderson and Mr. McDaniel how our library program supports students as learners and also as people!

7. After-School Program Information

• After-School Schedule: Week of 12/9
• AMC 8 Math Competition registration opens today at 3:30 PM.  Details and the sign-up form are on Schoology and must be accessed via your student's fcpsschools account.  Spaces are limited! 
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 12/20, 1/16, 1/17, 2/14, 4/11, 5/23
• 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner Rocky Run PTA is on Social Media!

Stay updated with the latest Rocky Run PTA activities and announcements by liking and following our brand new social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram!

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

November 22-24 - Fall Musical 

November 25-26 - No After-School (all students depart at 2:15 PM)

November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

December 3- 7th Grade Family Coffees by Team

                      Emerald: 7:45-8:45

                      Platinum: 11:30-12:30

                      Meteors: 1:00-2:00

December 5 - 8th Grade Family Coffees by Team

                      Sapphire: 7:45-8:45

                      Tigers Eye: 11:00-12:00

                      Kryptonite: 1:00-2:00

December 5- Fall Picture Retakes, Rock Time and during lunch periods

December 20 - No After-School (all students depart at 2:15 PM)

December 23 - January 3 - No School (Winter Break)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

There are numerous events to look forward to over the next few weeks. First and foremost, I am eagerly anticipating the opening weekend performances of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" by our very own Theatre at the Rock. I sneak into rehearsals periodically, and trust me, this show will be amazing! Performances are November 22 at 7 pm, November 23 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and November 24 at 2 pm. General Admission Tickets are $10 for 7th grade to adult, and $8 for 6th grade and younger, and are available now at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15634/.

Turkey Day is also rapidly approaching and I could not be more thankful to be part of the Rocky Run community. In keeping with the theme of gratitude and thankfulness that is inherent to the month of November, I want to take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate our amazing staff at RRMS! The Ram staff continuously shows resilience, compassion, grace, and innovation. I am truly lucky to work with such a dedicated group of educators.

I am grateful for each and every student in the Ram community. Our students continue to amaze me in and out of the classroom as engaged, global-minded collaborators. I am also thankful for the continued support of the community. The partnership built on trust and communication enables the students and staff and to focus on academic inquiry. Over the Thanksgiving break, I encourage students and staff to remember to take a break from work, and spend time with family, friends and loved ones!

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

• Please watch this video going over Kiss n Ride procedures! As the weather gets colder, we want to make sure that all families are aware of our procedures! When everyone follows the process, the line moves much more smoothly. Thanks for your cooperation!
• If you’re looking for a holiday gift for your Rocky Run student, the spirit wear store is open, including a new design! Hurry – the store closes on November 25 for early December delivery. Click the link or visit tinyurl.com/RockyRunSpirit.

• School Photos are now online!

  Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

  Picture retakes will take place on December 5th.

• Get Your Yearbook Today!

  LAST CHANCE BEFORE THE PRICE INCREASES ON DEC. 1st!

  Buy your Yearbook at https://prod.yboc.varsity.com/

  School Code: 5333

  Get Yours While Supplies Last!

• Lost and Found will be donated on Tuesday, 11/26 - have your students check for their missing items! 

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Aryana Gray (Accountable)

Zoe Murdoch (Engaged)

Azan Hamid (Accountable and Engaged)

Gabriel Rusu (Respectful, Accountable, and Engaged)

Berat Ozdemir (Inclusive)

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 Dahee Baek, Daniel Morales, Sanha Panda, Lainey Choi, Leanna Wilson, and Mi So Kang. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates

No updates this week!

6. Instructional Updates Theatre at the Rock Presents You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

Theatre at the Rock presents You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, a musical based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz!  Performances are November 22 at 7 pm, November 23 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and November 24 at 2 pm.  General Admission Tickets are $10 for 7th grade- adult, and $8 for 6th grade and younger, and are available now at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15634/. Buy your tickets early and be ready to explore life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and the whole Peanuts gang

RRMS Family Coffees

Please join us at our upcoming Family Coffees on December 3rd (7th grade) and December 5th (8th grade). Come meet other Rocky Run families, chat with your child’s team teachers, enjoy refreshments in an Open House format, and get answers to your questions about RRMS.

December 3rd:

Team Emerald: 7:45-8:45

Team Platinum: 11:30-12:30

Team Meteors: 1:00-2:00

December 5th:

Team Sapphire: 7:45-8:45

Team Tiger’s Eye: 11:00-12:00

Team Kryptonite: 1:00-2:00

RSVPs are appreciated to help us with our planning

Hope to see you there!

Library Happenings

On Tuesday, Mr. Leonberger’s class visited the library to hear a story, “Your Alien,” and do an activity afterwards. We practiced setting and characters with the story! Students’ creativity shined when they got to imagine their own day with the story’s alien! See below for a photo of some students hard at work.

On Wednesday, Ms. Valade’s Foundations of Art class came to the library to add more ideas to their sketchbooks. Students enjoyed an activity to create their own character or landscape using dice and then explored some of the library’s many drawing books, selecting drawings to try in their sketchbook. Overall, students did a great job working together and their art was exceptional! See below for a photo of some students sketching.

Finally, on Friday, Ms. Mertell’s class visited the library’s Inspiration Studio to practice using adjectives and prepositional phrases when giving directions to a partner to create a design with makerspace materials. They also continued working on their invention project, which was amazing to watch! Students displayed lots of creativity and critical thinking throughout the lesson!

7. After-School Program Information

• NO AFTER-SCHOOL ON MONDAY, 11/25, AND TUESDAY, 11/26 - all students depart at the 2:15 dismissal
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 11/25, 11/26, 12/20, 1/16, 1/17, 2/14, 4/11, 5/23
• NEW CLUB OPPORTUNITIES - Sign-up forms are posted in Schoology. Students must be logged into their fcpsschools account to access the forms.
  • Our next intermural sport is Futsal (indoor soccer).  We will host a Rocky Run tournament right after Thanksgiving break and the winning girls and boys team will move forward to play some other middle schools in January and February.  The information and sign-up form and are posted on the After-School Schoology Course.  The form is due by Tuesday, 11/26.  
  • Creativity Club in our Maker Space - Mondays during 1st and 2nd sessions
  • Technology Youth Empowerment (TYE) - variety of STEM lessons and activities, Wednesdays in January and February during 2nd and 3rd sessions.  Form opens on 11/22 at 3:30 PM.
• 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner Rocky Run PTA is on Social Media!

Stay updated with the latest Rocky Run PTA activities and announcements by liking and following our brand new social medai accounts on Facebook and Instagram!

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

November 18 – 7th Grade Wellness Screening and 8th Grade Youth Survey during Rock Time

November 22-24 - Fall Musical 

November 25-26 - No After-School (all students depart at 2:15 PM)

November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

December 3- 7th Grade Family Coffees by Team

                      Emerald: 7:45-8:45

                      Platinum: 11:30-12:30

                      Meteors: 1:00-2:00

December 5 - 8th Grade Family Coffees by Team

                      Sapphire: 7:45-8:45

                      Tigers Eye: 11:00-12:00

                      Kryptonite: 1:00-2:00

December 5- Fall Picture Retakes, Rock Time and during lunch periods

December 23 - January 3 - No School (Winter Break)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

Fall has officially arrived at Rocky Run! It was quite a jolt this past Wednesday to arrive at school with the freezing temperature. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the recent 80 degree weather the past few week, but I'm excited to welcome the brisk, sweater weather for a while. Please remind your students to dress appropriately for each day's weather. As a school, we will go outside each day for recess, so be sure to wear long pants and bring coats, hats and gloves.

Next week, November 18-22 is American Education Week. We will specifically recognize support professionals on Wednesday and substitute teachers on Friday.  We want to extent the recognition to ALL who work in our Rocky Run community: our bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, support and clinical, and more! Rocky Run would struggle to function without these important groups of professionals. I encourage you to submit a nomination to the FCPS Cares program for some of our amazing Rams. 

November is also Native American Heritage Month, which is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

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

• Please watch this video going over Kiss n Ride procedures! As the weather gets colder, we want to make sure that all families are aware of our procedures! When everyone follows the process, the line moves much more smoothly. Thanks for your cooperation!
• If you’re looking for a holiday gift for your Rocky Run student, the spirit wear store is open, including a new design! Hurry – the store closes on November 25 for early December delivery. Click the link or visit tinyurl.com/RockyRunSpirit.

• School Photos are now online!

  Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

  Picture retakes will take place on December 5th.

• Get Your Yearbook Today!

  ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP!

  Buy your Yearbook at https://prod.yboc.varsity.com/

  School Code: 5333

  Get Yours While Supplies Last!

• Thank you to the families who attended our Fall Family Night last week! If you missed it or would like to review resources, you can find them on our website.

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Marim Mikhail (Respectful)

Cedric Chantemsin (Engaged)

Ellie Lander (Engaged)

Rylan Woo (Respectful and Engaged)

Nora Lee (Safe)

Andrea Hackney (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 Marelin Guzaro Raymundo, Eyad Elmashy, Jonathan Bahour, Javier Velazco, Jayden Nguyen, and Lilian Cardoza Reyes. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates 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. Rock Time will be moved to the start of the day. Please remind your students to go straight to 3rd Period Rock Time on Monday morning!

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 [email protected]. 

• Ms. Esther Bae - Meteors Team [email protected]
• Dr. Halissa Jacobson - Platinum Team [email protected] 
• Ms. Lorraine Marshall - Emerald Team [email protected] 

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. 

Rock Time will be moved to the start of the day. Please remind your students to go straight to 3rd Period Rock Time on Monday morning!

6. Instructional Updates Theatre at the Rock Presents You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

Theatre at the Rock presents You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, a musical based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz!  Performances are November 22 at 7 pm, November 23 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and November 24 at 2 pm.  General Admission Tickets are $10 for 7th grade- adult, and $8 for 6th grade and younger, and are available now at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15634/. Buy your tickets early and be ready to explore life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and the whole Peanuts gang

RRMS Family Coffees

Please join us at our upcoming Family Coffees on December 3rd (7th grade) and December 5th (8th grade). Come meet other Rocky Run families, chat with your child’s team teachers, enjoy refreshments in an Open House format, and get answers to your questions about RRMS.

December 3rd:

Team Emerald: 7:45-8:45

Team Platinum: 11:30-12:30

Team Meteors: 1:00-2:00

December 5th:

Team Sapphire: 7:45-8:45

Team Tiger’s Eye: 11:00-12:00

Team Kryptonite: 1:00-2:00

RSVPs are appreciated to help us with our planning

Hope to see you there!

Library Happenings

This week we had a very special event in the library during Rock Time on Thursday! Thanks to funds from our Asha-Jyothi makerspace grant, instructors from the KidCreate Studio in Fairfax Station hosted a watercolor painting class for 16 interested students. They explored how adding water dilutes the paint color and created a monochromatic, misty mountain landscape with a fall color. Students had a great time and their creativity really shined in their finished products. Students used critical thinking, active listening, and most of all, had fun during this unique event!

7. After-School Program Information

• Schedule for the week of 11/18
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 11/25, 11/26, 12/20, 1/16, 1/17, 2/14, 4/11, 5/23
• Our next intermural sport is Futsal (indoor soccer).  We will host a Rocky Run tournament right after Thanksgiving break and the winning girls and boys team will move forward to play some other middle schools in January and February.  The information and sign-up form and are posted on the After-School Schoology Course.  The form is due by Tuesday, 11/26.  Students must be logged into their fcpsschools account to access the form.
• 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner Rocky Run PTA is on Social Media!

Stay updated with the latest Rocky Run PTA activities and announcements by liking and following our brand new social medai accounts on Facebook and Instagram!

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

November 11 - No School (Veteran's Day)

November 14 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library

November 18 – 7th Grade Wellness Screening and 8th Grade Youth Survey during Rock Time

November 22-24 - Fall Musical 

November 25-26 - No After-School (all students depart at 2:15 PM)

November 27-29 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

We had a VERY exciting week at Rocky Run Middle School (even though it was only 3 days of school)! The second quarter of the school year kicked off with many exciting events in the halls of RRMS that strengthened our ties to various stakeholder groups within the community. It continues to be a priority of Rocky Run Middle School to sponsor outreach events and partner with our community. 

On Wednesday, the Rocky Run staff was treated to a luncheon of traditional Korean food, courtesy of many of the families from our Korean community. The food was delicious and it was great to interact with families and learn more about Korean culture. We were thrilled to welcome School Board Member, Ilryong Moon during the luncheon. A special thanks goes out to our parent liaison, Helen Seo and Director of Student Services, Young Hong for helping to organize the event. 

On Thursday, we hosted our annual family night event. The breakout sessions were a hit! The conversation about student executive functioning, grading practices, the impact of words, and math sequencing were well attended! The evening was capped off with a PTA-sponsored conversation with Dr. Reid. Dr. Reid spoke very openly with members of the entire K-12 Chantilly community about issues important to them. The conversation ranged from salad bars and building renovations to school safety and literacy instruction. It's always a pleasure to engage with the greater Chantilly community about issues that impact all families. 

On Friday, in honor of Veteran's Day, we hosted a community breakfast for all military connected Rams, with a great turnout. We take pride in supporting the military community as a Purple Star designated school, and strive to make the transition of military connected students as smooth as possible. A special thanks goes out to our Dean of Students, Katelyn Hagen and counselor Lorraine Marshall for coordinating the event.

As a reminder, Monday, November 11 is a student holiday in observance of Veteran's Day. Please set aside a few minutes this weekend to reflect on, and appreciate the service that all veterans have given. 

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

• Complete Impact Aid Survey via SIS ParentVUE account

• School Photos are now online!

  Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

  Picture retakes will take place on December 5th.

• Get Your Yearbook Today!

  ONLY 3 WEEKS LEFT BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP!

  Buy your Yearbook at https://prod.yboc.varsity.com/

  School Code: 5333

  Get Yours While Supplies Last!

4. Student Celebrations Rams on a Roll- October

Each month, teams identify two students who have exemplified our RAISE attributes throughout the month by being Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged. These students are consistently Raising the Ram both in and out of the classroom! Congratulations to our Rams on a Roll for October:

Team Emerald: Robert Clohan, Romina Moreno Melgarejo and Uriah Simpson

Team Meteors: Aiden Cho and Nishka Sharma

Team Platinum: Nikunj Anand and Addison Ayala

Team Kryptonite: Anisha Goel and Zach Montgomery

Team Sapphire: Yifutihaer Dilixiati and Eve Sokolinski

Team Tigers Eye: Anjana Atre and Chase Gordon

RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Evan Storch (Respectful)

Anisha Marrapu (Inclusive)

Grayson McCarthy (Engaged)

Megan Ji (Respectful and Engaged)

Ibrahim Mahmoud (Engaged)

Ada Tan (Respectful and 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 Bridgett Rios Soria, Priya Sanapuji, Vasisht Duddela, Safa Rahimi, Gabriel Rusu, and Gordon Harsha. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates 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 [email protected]. 

• Ms. Esther Bae - Meteors Team [email protected]
• Dr. Halissa Jacobson - Platinum Team [email protected] 
• Ms. Lorraine Marshall - Emerald Team [email protected] 

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

No new updates this week!

7. After-School Program Information

• Schedule for the week of 11/11
  • No after-school activities on Friday, 11/8 - all students depart at the 2:15 dismissal (exception - fall theater rehearsal is still on!)
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner Westfield High School Fall Theatre Production

Westfield High School Theatre Presents A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Nov. 7, 8 and 9 at 7pm and Nov. 9 at 2pm

Tickets: $15 adult, $10 student. All seats reserved. All info found at www.westfieldtheatre.com

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

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, No After-School Program

November 11 - No School (Veteran's Day)

November 18 – 7th Grade Wellness Screening and 8th Grade Youth Survey during Rock Time

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

One quarter down, three to go in the 2024-2025 school year! I hope that all students enjoy a relaxing, five-day weekend and recharge their batteries for the start of the second quarter on November 6 (Gold Day).

Even though the quarter was coming to an end, we had a great (civically focused) week at RRMS. Our lecture hall was transformed by the social studies department on Tuesday and Wednesday for all students to participate in a mock-election. We even gave out "I Voted" stickers! It's never to early to remind students of their civic responsibility to vote. On Thursday, we held our 2nd Annual Day of Service, and it was a HUGE success. Students participated in meaningful activities that focused on giving back to our community and creating positive impact. Each student earned five hours of service towards the 15 hour requirement in middle school. I had a blast packaging food, planting trees, and weeding invasive plants. Overall, it was a great day at Rocky Run.

As we come back to school in the first week of November, I hope to see you at Family Night on Thursday, November 7. We will hold breakout sessions targeted to parents and caregivers starting at 5:00 PM. Topics include:  executive functioning, math sequencing, gradebooks, and the power of words. Our evening will wrap up with a session with Dr. Reid, FCPS Superintendent, starting at 6:30 PM.

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

• Plan to attend our Fall Family Night on November 7! RSVP here to let us know you are coming! 

• Complete Impact Aid Survey via SIS ParentVUE account

• Get Your Yearbook Today!

  ONLY ONE MONTH LEFT BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP!

  Buy your Yearbook at https://prod.yboc.varsity.com/

  School Code: 5333

  Get Yours While Supplies Last!

4. Student Celebrations Rocky Run Day of Service

At today’s Day of Service Rocky Run had representative coming from the Travis Manion Foundation, Raising Responsible Citizens, the Bluebell Chapter of the National Charity League, Fairfax Releaf, Food for Neighbors, and Rise Against Hunger. In addition, our students also participated in projects for school beautification, invasive species education, Sunrise Senior Living (making Thanksgiving cards and Fall centerpieces), Project Linus, the Kindness Campaign, Love for our Elders, Soldiers Angels, Cards for Hospitalized Kids, Operation Gratitude, Soldiers Angels, and writing Veterans Day letters. We hope that all students were able to participate in a variety of service-learning opportunities, and learned way in which they can continue to give back to their community.

All of our 8th grade students packed food with Rise Against Hunger thanks to the generous donations of our community, Pohanka Chevrolet, TruOrthodontics, Expectation Church, Tony Saa at Weichert Realty, Realtor Gotta Go with Joe, and Ed Lang with ReMax Premier. The class raised $7,927.05 to provide food for those experience food insecurity.

Today we also kicked off a food drive with Food for Neighbors. Students can bring in food drive items next week on November 6, 7, & 8. The team with the most items will get donuts at their team party!

RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Sean Choe (Engaged)

Smera Jasani (Engaged)

Carmen VanYperen (Respectful and Engaged)

Kathy Smith (Engaged)

Chelsea Monroy (Engaged)

Craighton Vijoy (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 Andrew Li, Talha Ilmek, Jonathan Genes, Sana Almidani, Abie Yoo, and Anisha Goel. 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 ([email protected]) 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 [email protected]. 

• Ms. Esther Bae - Meteors Team [email protected]
• Dr. Halissa Jacobson - Platinum Team [email protected] 
• Ms. Lorraine Marshall - Emerald Team [email protected] 

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 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 11/4
  • No after-school activities on Friday, 11/8 - all students depart at the 2:15 dismissal (exception - fall theater rehearsal is still on!)
• 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

Congratulations to our girls and boys basketball teams on a great fall season!  They were so much fun to watch on the court and always showed great teamwork and sportsmanship.  They made us proud!  Go, Rams!!

8. Community Corner Westfield High School Fall Theatre Production

Westfield High School Theatre Presents A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Nov. 7, 8 and 9 at 7pm and Nov. 9 at 2pm

Tickets: $15 adult, $10 student. All seats reserved. All info found at www.westfieldtheatre.com

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
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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

• 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!

• Hearing and Vision Screening volunteers needed for October 29 and 30.  Sign up here.

• 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 ([email protected]) 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 [email protected]. 

• Ms. Esther Bae - Meteors Team [email protected]
• Dr. Halissa Jacobson - Platinum Team [email protected] 
• Ms. Lorraine Marshall - Emerald Team [email protected] 

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

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

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

October 21-22 - Fall Pictures (students attend during their PE class)

October 26 - Cross Country Championship Meet, Liberty MS

October 29-30 - Hearing and Vision Screenings (7th Grade, PE Classes)

October 31 - End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release

November 1 - No School (Holiday- Diwali)

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

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

As we reflect on the first quarter of the school year, please consider taking a few minutes to recognize one or more Rocky Run Middle School employees that have made a positive impact in your student’s life. The FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards allow students and their families to nominate staff members in the Outstanding Teacher, Outstanding New Teacher, Outstanding Principal, Outstanding Leader, Outstanding Professional, and Outstanding Operational Employee categories. Nominations are due by Wednesday, November 6, 2024. We hope that the commitment and innovation of our employees will be well-represented!

All that is required for a preliminary nomination are a few sentences about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.

Outstanding Teacher  

• Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

• Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding Principal

• Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district).

Outstanding Leader 

• Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a School-Based Administrator (that is not the building principal). Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services

Outstanding Professional Employee 

• Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership. Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school

Outstanding Operational Employee

• Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as a Classroom Instructional Support employee. Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)  

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

• Share what makes Rocky Run special! We are creating a "Top 10" list for our website- please share your favorite thing about Rocky Run here. This could be an event, a club, or anything else that makes Rocky Run stand out!
• 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!

• Hearing and Vision Screening volunteers needed for October 29 and 30.  Sign up here.

• School Picture Day is Coming This Week!

  📅 Date: Monday October 21st & Tuesday October 22nd, 2024

  Photos happening during PE classes:

  October 21st – Blue Day PE Classes

  October 22nd – Gold Day PE Classes

  🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132798#login📸 Images Available: Approximately two-three weeks after picture day📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at [email protected]

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Luke Schmidt (Accountable)

Luke Carnow (Accountable)

Bissan Abuoun (Respectful and Safe)

Rylan Woo (Engaged)

Mnase Haile (Engaged)

Liam Tomchik (Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and 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 Eli Condit, Katherine McKenna, Rodolfo Romero-Gonzalez, Alexandra Dagdelen Quiroga, Lucian Kim, and Haleema Fraz. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates Advanced Academic Program Referrals

Parents or guardians of seventh-grade students who are NOT NEW to FCPS may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Sunday, December 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

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!

Library Updates

This week was really busy in the Rocky Run Library! Mrs. Bartling’s English classes used the library space earlier in the week for book club discussions. Students communicated and collaborated with each other to talk about characters, plot, and more. It’s always wonderful to hear students share meaningful experiences with reading!

Towards the end of the week, Mrs. Cho’s Civics classes visited the library and Inspiration Studio as part of their election simulation project, designing merchandise and filming ads for their campaign. Students collaborated, negotiated, clarified learning, and created original work! There is so much for these classes to be proud of during their time in the library.

7. After-School Program Information

• Schedule for the week of 10/21
• 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner 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

Westfield Theatre Halloween Festival

Our Halloween Festival is Saturday, October 19th at Westfield High School!

The carnival in the auditorium from 4-8pm will feature games and princess and pirate meet and greets! Costumes encouraged. Come anytime!

The escape room (for ages 12 and up) in the Blackbox classroom will run from 4-8pm. Sign up for the escape room with the QR code on the flyer or by this LINK.

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

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October 17 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library - CANCELED 

See you at the next scheduled meeting on November 14.

 

Lost and Found

Is your student missing any sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, lunch bags?!  Chances are - they are in our lost and found in the cafeteria!  Please remind them to check for their items as we will be donating all unclaimed items at the end of the month.

8. Community Corner 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

Westfield Theatre Halloween Festival

Our Halloween Festival is Saturday, October 19th at Westfield High School!

The carnival in the auditorium from 4-8pm will feature games and princess and pirate meet and greets! Costumes encouraged. Come anytime!

The escape room (for ages 12 and up) in the Blackbox classroom will run from 4-8pm. Sign up for the escape room with the QR code on the flyer or by this LINK.

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

1. Important Dates

October 11- PM Observance: Yom Kippur (regular school day for students),    No After-School Program Today - all students depart at 2:15 PM

October 14 - No School- Indigenous Peoples' Day (Staff Development)

October 15-17 - 7th Grade Science MWEE Field Trip

October 17 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library 

October 21-22 - Fall Pictures (students attend during their PE class)

October 31 - End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release

November 1 - No School (Holiday- Diwali)

November 4-5 - No School

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

Greetings from Jolly 'Ole England! As you may be able to tell, I am writing to you from across the pond in Banbury, England (relatively close to Oxford). Since last weekend, I have had the pleasure of escorting 26 amazing Rocky Run Rams in our bi-annual exchange program with the Warriner School. We will return the favor and host our English friends during the last week of March. Our hope is that the Cherry Blossoms will be in peak bloom and we can really show off Washington DC and Northern Virginia.

Even though I've been away, I've been keeping up with all the happenings at Rocky Run, and things are running smoothly. I am extremely appreciative of my Director of Student Services Young Hong, and Assistant Principals Johnelle Sweet and Rachel Sweeney for holding down the fort in my absence. 

Looking ahead, Indigenous Peoples' Day will be celebrated on Monday, October 14. Students will enjoy a three-day weekend, while staff members will participate in professional development focused on literacy. This holiday honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of indigenous peoples, past and present. 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

• Chromebooks: Please make sure that your student still has their protective case on their Chromebook! If they do not, please ask them to bring their Chromebook and case to the tech office so that we can put it back on for them. The screens are prone to breakage and students who do not have their cases on will be responsible for damage!
• 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!

• BUY YOUR YEARBOOK- Don’t Miss a Memory!

  Prices go up December 1st – Buy yours now for the best price! Get yours at https://yearbookordercenter.com/ School Code: 5333

  Available while supplies last.

• Hearing and Vision Screening volunteers needed for October 29 and 30.  Sign up here.

• School Picture Day is Coming- October 21st and 22nd

  Photos happening during PE classes:

  October 21st – Blue Day PE Classes

  October 22nd – Gold Day PE Classes

Lost and Found

Is your student missing any sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, lunch bags?!  Chances are - they are in our lost and found in the cafeteria!  Please remind them to check for their items as we will be donating all unclaimed items at the end of the month.

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Liam Ashiabor (Engaged)

Kaya Magwire (Inclusive and Engaged)

Hajar Yousufi (Inclusive and Engaged)

Adelyn Mizell (Engaged)

Yusef Albedrani (Engaged)

Elif Sen (Inclusive and 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 Freya Younce, Vedant Kommaraju, Rachel Ganbat, Katelyn Prem, Caroline Grindal, and Suhas Devarakonda. Congratulations and thank you for Raising the Ram by getting to class on time!

5. Student Services Updates Advanced Academic Program Referrals

Parents or guardians of seventh and eighth-grade students NEW to FCPS as of January 2024 who were not screened in Spring 2024 may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

Parents or guardians of seventh-grade students who are NOT NEW to FCPS may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Sunday, December 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

MAP Testing for Mathematics

Reminder that all students will be taking the MAP Growth assessment during their math classes on either 10/17, 18, or 21.  The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) require schools to provide reading and mathematics screening tests for all students in grades 6-8. These assessments also fulfill a requirement for reading and mathematics growth assessments under the Virginia Assessment Program (VAP). Test results help families and teachers know how to support each student’s learning and development. The Academic Screening, Growth, and Diagnostic Tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/academic-screening-growth-and-diagnostic-tests) provides more information on these tests. 

Student Council

Rocky Run SCA Representatives had their first meeting to start planning fun events for this school year. Today we planned our first Spirit Week for the last week of October!

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

Any donations made before October 18 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card to Bonefish Grill!

Library Updates

Mrs. DeRusso’s Spanish 2 classes celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in the library by learning about famous Hispanic Americans! Working in groups, students reviewed a folder with multiple resources about their person and contributed to a graphic organizer prioritizing important facts and reflections about their person. Then, the groups transformed their graphic organizer into colorful, informative posters for their peers to learn about their person. Overall, it was a great mini research project that included collaboration, leadership, negotiation, and persistence!

Mrs. Kaplan’s classes also visited the library earlier this week for a book browsing activity to learn more about the different fiction genres in the library. Almost all students chose a just-for-fun book to read because of this activity! Students were engaged in the interesting book choices specially curated by Mrs. Grover and practiced critical thinking when deciding from their list of potential books which one title they wanted to check out.

Finally, Ms. Speir’s and Ms. Bolton’s 8th period Civics class visited the library to create buttons for their 3rd party candidate as they are learning about elections in the United States. Their designs showed creativity, inspiration from what they were learning, and looked professional after using the button maker!

7. After-School Program Information

• Schedule for the week of 10/14
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 10/11, 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner 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

Westfield Theatre Halloween Festival

Our Halloween Festival is Saturday, October 19th at Westfield High School!

The carnival in the auditorium from 4-8pm will feature games and princess and pirate meet and greets! Costumes encouraged. Come anytime!

The escape room (for ages 12 and up) in the Blackbox classroom will run from 4-8pm. Sign up for the escape room with the QR code on the flyer or by this LINK.

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Table of Contents 1. Important Dates 2. A Note from the Principal 3. Action Items for Families 4. Student Recognition 5. Student Services Updates 6. Instructional Updates 7. After-School Updates 8. Community Corner 1. Important Dates

October 7- Day of Service fundraiser at Panda Express

October 11- PM Observance: Yom Kippur (regular school day for students)

October 14 - No School- Indigenous Peoples' Day (Staff Development)

October 15-17 - 7th Grade Science MWEE Field Trip 

October 21-22 - Fall Pictures (students attend during their PE class)

October 31 - End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release

November 1 - No School (Holiday- Diwali)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

It's been a rainy week at Rocky Run. Our current stretch of consecutive days of rain has to be a record, right? The rain has caused our teachers to be creative during recess and PE periods, and the kids are getting (understandably) stir crazy. I hope that the weather improves for the upcoming four-day weekend! 

On a personal note, next week I will be accompanying a group of 26 Rams to England for our bi-annual exchange program. Our students have been fostering relationships with their buddies at the Warriner School in Banbury, England for the past year. Our group travels to visit them next week and returns the favor for the English students in March. I am definitely looking forward to touring Warrick Castle, and sailing on the Thames River, among many other adventures! The exchange program is one of the many perks of serving as the principal of the BEST middle school in FCPS.

Be on the lookout for a guest author in this section of the newsletter next week.

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

• 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!

• BUY YOUR YEARBOOK- Don’t Miss a Memory!

  Prices go up December 1st – Buy yours now for the best price! Get yours at https://yearbookordercenter.com/ School Code: 5333

  Available while supplies last.

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Wyatt Ogle (Safe)

Ghaliyah Lewis (Respectful, Inclusive, and Safe)

Cassidy McDonald (Inclusive and Engaged)

Nayde Jones-Carvalho (Engaged)

Cortez Banks (Inclusive and Engaged)

Isabella Lutz-Montiel (Respectful)

Great job Raising the Ram!

September Rams on a Roll

Each month, teams identify two students who have exemplified our RAISE attributes throughout the month by being Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged. These students are consistently Raising the Ram both in and out of the classroom! Congratulations to our Rams on a Roll for September:

Team Emerald: Levi Matua and Carmen VanYperen

Team Meteors: Amelia Hagen and Yaseen Masri

Team Platinum: Grady Gilbert and Skyler Lee

Team Kryptonite: Manya Banavar and An Bui

Team Sapphire: Alice Greene and Tyler Regan

Team Tigers Eye: Maya Hayes and Bella Le

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 SEL Screener on October 10. Please complete this Google Form ONLY if you DO NOT want your child to participate in the Screener: Rocky Run SEL Screener OPT-OUT Form

Advanced Academic Program Referrals

Parents or guardians of seventh and eighth-grade students NEW to FCPS as of January 2024 who were not screened in Spring 2024 may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

Parents or guardians of seventh-grade students who are NOT NEW to FCPS may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Sunday, December 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

Any donations made before October 18 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card to Bonefish Grill!

Support the last fundraiser for this event! All funds raised go towards the packing event with Rise Against Hunger: Monday October 7th – Virtual Fundraiser with Panda Express – order online for delivery or pick-up using the code 925833 and 28% of sales are donated! Share with friends and family nationwide!

7. After-School Program Information

• Schedule for the week of 10/7
  • No activities on Friday, 10/11 - all students depart at the 2:15 dismissal
• Mark your calendars: there will be no after-school programs on these  upcoming dates - 10/11, 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.
  • Late Bus Runs were updated on 10/2 - the updated route sheet is pinned on Schoology with the impacted buses highlighted in yellow
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner 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

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Table of Contents 1. Important Dates 2. A Note from the Principal 3. Action Items for Families 4. Student Recognition 5. Student Services Updates 6. Instructional Updates 7. After-School Updates 8. Community Corner 1. Important Dates

September 29- Chipotle Fundraiser for Day of Service, 4-8pm

October 2- PM Observance: Rosh Hashanah (regular school day for students)

October 3 - No School (Holiday- Rosh Hashanah)

October 4 - No School (Teacher Workday)

October 11- PM Observance: Yom Kippur (regular school day for students)

October 14 - No School- Indigenous Peoples' Day (Staff Development)

October 15-17 - 7th Grade Science MWEE Field Trip 

October 21-22 - Fall Pictures (students attend during their PE class)

October 31 - End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release

November 1 - No School (Holiday- Diwali)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

We had another great week at Rocky Run Middle School, even though the rain kept us mostly inside for recess. I spent the majority of my week in history and civics classes learning about the impact of westward expansion and political party platforms. Another highlight of the week was the Blue Star Welcome Breakfast that we hosted on Thursday. Blue Star Welcome Week was recognized nationally from September 21-September 29. It was a great opportunity to allow our 20+ connected miliary students to get to know each other and build community with Rocky Run. I am extremely grateful to Lorraine Marshall (counselor) and Katelyn Hagen (Dean of Students) for spearheading this initiative. To learn more about Blue Star Welcome Week, check out this website.

This week also marked the end of 3 consecutive 5-day school weeks. Be sure to check the upcoming school calendars for closures and observances. The first observance, Rosh Hashanah, which means “head of the year,” is one of Judaism’s holiest days and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection. Students will not report to school on October 3 and October 4. The Days of Awe end at sundown on October 11 with the start of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. We wish all members of our Jewish community a Shanah Tovah, or Happy New Year!

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

• BUY YOUR YEARBOOK- Don’t Miss a Memory!

  Prices go up December 1st – Buy yours now for the best price! Get yours at https://yearbookordercenter.com/ School Code: 5333

  Available while supplies last.

• Support Rocky Run’s Day of Service. Make a donation here or here. Eat at Chipotle by Wegmans this Sunday from 4-8pm. A $10 or 1 item donation from each family at Rocky Run will help to reach our goal of each student earning 5 hours of service and experiencing the value of giving back to their community!

• Scoliosis Fact Sheet

  To meet the Code of Virginia 22.1-273.1 and FCPS Regulation 2103 for the provision of parent educational information on scoliosis, all FCPS schools must provide a scoliosis fact sheet to parents or guardians of students in grades 5 through 10 within 60 business days of the school start date.

  The Scoliosis Fact Sheet and translations are available on the Scoliosis Fact Sheet  page. 

4. Student Celebrations Blue Star Welcome Week

Thank you to the students and staff who joined us this week for our Blue Star Welcome Week event. Military-connected students and staff came together to meet, form friendships, and share their experiences.

RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Luke Schmidt (Engaged)

Lima Sultani (Inclusive and Engaged)

Nathan O'Neill (Respectful and Engaged)

Bilal Usmani (Respectful, Accountable, and Engaged)

Farid Mahammadli (Engaged)

Grant Nuckols (Respectful and Safe)

Great job Raising the Ram!

5. Student Services Updates World Languages 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 credits by taking the World Language Credit by Exam. 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 by Friday, October 4th at 9 a.m.

Assessments will take place at Rocky Run Middle School during a school day in November. We will share exact testing dates later. 

Please make sure you and your child visit the Avant website to learn about what to expect from this test, including sample tests and keyboard, computer, and headphone requirements.

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 SEL Screener on October 10. Please complete this Google Form ONLY if you DO NOT want your child to participate in the Screener: Rocky Run SEL Screener OPT-OUT Form

Advanced Academic Program Referrals

Parents or guardians of seventh and eighth-grade students NEW to FCPS as of January 2024 who were not screened in Spring 2024 may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

Parents or guardians of seventh-grade students who are NOT NEW to FCPS may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Sunday, December 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

Support our fundraisers for this event! All funds raised go towards the packing event with Rise Against Hunger:

• Sunday September 29th 4-8pm at the Chipotle on Newbrook Dr. (by Wegmans)  - tell the cashier you are there for Rocky Run and we get 25% back! (Online order code is 62V7AXB)
• Monday October 7th – Virtual Fundraiser with Panda Express – order online for delivery or pick-up using the code 925833 and 28% of sales are donated! Share with friends and family nationwide!

Library Updates

This week, Mrs. DeRusso’s classes began a research project on famous Hispanic Americans to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Students are working in small groups on reading “briefings” with information from multiple sources about their person. This activity is a meaningful way for students to collaborate, interact with informational text, and prioritize information – all while learning about someone who has made a difference for the Hispanic community. Next week, they are going to create a visual with what they have learned to share with the other groups in their class.

7. After-School Program Information

• Schedule for the week of 9/30
• NEW Clubs are starting soon (JAVA Coding, CyberPatriots, Science Olympiad Selection Test) - sign-up forms will be posted on the After-School Schoology Course this Friday at 3:30 PM.  Students must be logged into their fcpsschools account to access these sign-up forms.
• 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.
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner 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

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
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Table of Contents 1. Important Dates 2. A Note from the Principal 3. Action Items for Families 4. Student Recognition 5. Student Services Updates 6. Instructional Updates 7. After-School Updates 8. Community Corner 1. Important Dates

September 26 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library

September 29- Chipotle Fundraiser for Day of Service, 4-8pm

October 3 - No School (Holiday)

October 4 - No School (Teacher Workday)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

We had another great week at Rocky Run Middle School. Our after school programs are in full swing and our cross country program is up and running (pun intended). We have over 120 students participating to represent the Rams. Their first meet is this Saturday, September 21, at 8:30 AM at Robinson. Please consider coming out to cheer on our "Running Rams".

As the weather continues to change and routines become more standardized, I want to take this opportunity to write about ways that the school and community can partner to support mental health and social/emotional learning. One important way to support your student’s social and emotional learning is to make sure they get to school. Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now to help them graduate from college on time and routinely report to work on time once they have a career. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10 percent of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.” If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to the school by calling 703-802-7782, or by emailing [email protected]. Similarly, please have a conversation with your students about the importance of arriving to each class on time! Tardies add up too, and cause students to miss a substantial amount of instructional time. As we started last year, a student's privilege to attend certain school-sponsored activities (Franklin vs Rocky Run basketball game, etc) will be tied to tardy monitoring. 

Lastly, this week, students began to attend sessions about the impact of their words. We ask families to engage in conversations with their students as a follow up. Please consider using these sentence starters:

1. Tell me more about being an “upstander”-- what does that term mean to you?
2. Have you heard any instances of hate speech at school? If so, how has this made you feel? How have you responded?
3. If you hear someone use hate speech in the future, how might you respond differently? 
4. What questions do you have after having all of these conversations? How are you feeling? How can I support you?

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

• BUY YOUR YEARBOOK- Don’t Miss a Memory!

  Prices go up December 1st – Buy yours now for the best price! Get yours at https://yearbookordercenter.com/ School Code: 5333

  Available while supplies last.

• Ms. Valade is collecting recycled materials for art projects, including cardboard boxes, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, packing paper, and magazines. Please drop any donations off to the Main Office or ask your student to bring them to Room 125.

4. Student Celebrations Blue Star Welcome Week

During Blue Star Welcome Week, Rocky Run Middle School welcomes and celebrates our military-connected families! Blue Star Welcome Week was created to recognize the 600,000 military families who move to new communities each year, while raising awareness and building support for military-connected students. We will be honoring our military-connected students during a Rock Time (3rd period) meet and greet event. Please visit this link to learn more about the supports available to FCPS military-connected families.

RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Viraj Yadav (Respectful)

Jeremiah Guandalino-Martinez (Respectful, Accountable, and Safe)

Annalyn Plaugher (Accountable and Engaged)

Erin Kim (Accountable)

Aavyan Tendulkar (Engaged)

Alice Greene (Respectful and Accountable)

Great job Raising the Ram!

5. Student Services Updates World Languages 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 credits by taking the World Language Credit by Exam. 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 by Friday, October 4th at 9 a.m.

Assessments will take place at Rocky Run Middle School during a school day in November. We will share exact testing dates later. 

Please make sure you and your child visit the Avant website to learn about what to expect from this test, including sample tests and keyboard, computer, and headphone requirements.

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 SEL Screener on October 10. Please complete this Google Form ONLY if you DO NOT want your child to participate in the Screener: Rocky Run SEL Screener OPT-OUT Form

Advanced Academic Program Referrals

Parents or guardians of seventh and eighth-grade students NEW to FCPS as of January 2024 who were not screened in Spring 2024 may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

Parents or guardians of seventh-grade students who are NOT NEW to FCPS may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Sunday, December 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

Support our fundraisers for this event! All of the funds raised go towards the packing event with Rise Against Hunger:

• Sunday September 29th 4-8pm at the Chipotle on Newbrook Dr. (by Wegmans)  - tell the cashier you are there for Rocky Run and we get 25% back! (Online order code is 62V7AXB)
• Monday October 7th – Virtual Fundraiser with Panda Express – order online for delivery or pick-up using the code 925833 and 28% of sales are donated! Share with friends and family nationwide!

7. After-School Program Information

• Schedule for the week of 9/23
• 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.
• 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 [email protected]

8. Community Corner Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
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  Join Us for Our Exciting Silent Auction!

 

Dear RRMS Families,

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Silent Auction, running from **September 20 at 8 AM to September 28 at 9 PM**! This is a fantastic opportunity to support our school while bidding on amazing items!

What to Expect: Incredible Items: From VIP experiences to Tardy passes, there’s something for everyone! Community Spirit: Connect with fellow families and enjoy a night of camaraderie and support for our school.

Bid to Win: Every bid helps! Show your support for the RAMS!

3 ways to to bid:

1) Auction link: https://app.givebacks.gives/rockyrunauction

2) Text to bid: Text rockyrunauction to (919) 626-3277 to get auction link

3) Scan QR code to bid (See attached)

How Your Contributions Will Help:

• 8th Grade Dance: Help us make this milestone event a memorable celebration for our graduating class!
• Raise the Ram Rewards: Support incentives that encourage and recognize our students' hard work and achievements.
• Staff Appreciation: Show our dedicated teachers and staff how much we value their commitment and care.
• More Benches for the Kiss & Ride: Improve our drop-off/pick-up experience with additional seating for parents, students, and staff. Have you seen the new benches that the PTA purchased from last year's fundraiser?

Your participation makes a difference! 

Thank you for your continued support!

 

-Rocky Run PTA

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
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  Join Us for Our Exciting Silent Auction!

 

Dear RRMS Families,

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Silent Auction, running from **September 20 at 8 AM to September 28 at 9 PM**! This is a fantastic opportunity to support our school while bidding on amazing items!

What to Expect: Incredible Items: From VIP experiences to Tardy passes, there’s something for everyone! Community Spirit: Connect with fellow families and enjoy a night of camaraderie and support for our school.

Bid to Win: Every bid helps! Show your support for the RAMS!

Where to bid: https://app.givebacks.gives/rockyrunauction/Campaign/Details?ReturnUrl=%2FCampaigns%2FSetup%2F9969d6%2FOptions

How Your Contributions Will Help:

• 8th Grade Dance: Help us make this milestone event a memorable celebration for our graduating class!
• Raise the Ram Rewards: Support incentives that encourage and recognize our students' hard work and achievements.
• Staff Appreciation: Show our dedicated teachers and staff how much we value their commitment and care.
• More Benches for the Kiss & Ride: Improve our drop-off/pick-up experience with additional seating for parents, students, and staff. Have you seen the new benches that the PTA purchased from last year's fundraiser?

Your participation makes a difference! 

Thank you for your continued support!

 

-Rocky Run PTA

 

 

Click to edit this placeholder text.

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
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Table of Contents 1. Important Dates 2. A Note from the Principal 3. Action Items for Families 4. Student Recognition 5. Student Services Updates 6. Instructional Updates 7. After-School Updates 8. Community Corner 1. Important Dates

September 29- Chipotle Fundraiser for Day of Service, 4-8pm

October 3 - No School (Holiday)

October 4 - No School (Teacher Workday)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

We had a busy week at Rocky Run Middle School! Fall is definitely in the air and outdoor recess was gorgeous. I loved playing tips, four square, volleyball and basketball with the students. It is so cool to see middle school students being "kids" and engaging with each other away from technology. 

Our After School Program officially kicked off this past Monday, September 9. Students will have the opportunity to get extra help from teachers or participate in one of our many clubs and activities Monday through Thursday. Our cross country team had their first practices this week. Over 175 Rams registered to be part of the team. I anticipate fast times from our runners at their first meet on September 21 at Robinson. Please consider coming by to root on our runners.

Looking ahead, on Sunday we will kick off a month-long celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15). It was made an official observation in the United States in 1968. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; with Mexico and Chile celebrating their independence days on September 16 and September 18. This month is a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions by Latinos/Hispanics in popular culture through music, food, and dance, as well as in science, art, economics, politics and other fields.

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

• Digital resource consent: Please go here to give your student consent to use digital resources at Rocky Run.
• After School Registration: The After School Registration form is required for ALL students, regardless of intent to participate!
• The library is looking for puzzle donations! If you have any that are 300-750 pieces that you are no longer using, please contact Mrs. Grover ([email protected]). Thank you!

The Spirit Wear store is open! Visit the spirit wear website before sales end tomorrow, Saturday, September 14! The next time the store will be open is mid-November for holiday purchases. All proceeds benefit the Rocky Run PTA.

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

Aarthi Sabapathy (Engaged)

Jenna Hill (Engaged)

Emery Venus (Engaged)

Madison Kraft (Engaged)

Grace Kim (Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged)

Iam Suarez Carrillo (Accountable)

Great job Raising the Ram!

Congratulations to TSA Students!

Twelve students attended the TSA (Technology Student Association) National Competition over the summer.  TSA (tsaweb.org) organizes competitions at the regional, state, and national level in STEM related events. 

Rocky Run students competed in 18 events with students from around the country, in Orlando, FL, this past June.  Students placed top 10 in four events: Children’s Stories 2nd, Cybersecurity 6th, Construction Challenge 8th, and Biotechnology 10th. 

5. Student Services Updates World Languages 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.

• Counselors are beginning to register students.  You will get an email and a paper confirmation; note that the test date of 11/06/24 is when the test window opens; we will share exact testing dates later.  Assessments will take place at Rocky Run Middle School during a school day in November.
• 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.

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. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. Division and school level results, which do not include individual student information, may be used by staff to improve SEL and mental wellness practices and to inform strategic plans. For more information about the SEL Screener, including the Screener questions, please visit the FCPS Website. 

Rocky Run Middle School will give the Fall 2024 SEL Screener on October 10, 2024. Please complete this Google Form ONLY if you DO NOT want your child to participate in the Screener: Rocky Run SEL Screener OPT-OUT Form

Advanced Academic Program Referrals

Parents or guardians of seventh and eighth-grade students NEW to FCPS as of January 2024 who were not screened in Spring 2024 may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

Parents or guardians of seventh-grade students who are NOT NEW to FCPS may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Sunday, December 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

Support our fundraisers for this event! All of the funds raised go towards the packing event with Rise Against Hunger:

• Sunday September 29th 4-8pm at the Chipotle on Newbrook Dr. (by Wegmans)  - tell the cashier you are there for Rocky Run and we get 25% back! (Online order code is 62V7AXB)
• Monday October 7th – Virtual Fundraiser with Panda Express – order online for delivery or pick-up using the code 925833 and 28% of sales are donated! Share with friends and family nationwide!

Library Happenings

Almost every student has visited the library with their English class! There are only a few more classes next week. Ask your student what their favorite part of the library is.

Reminder: Many students still have books checked out from last year, including elementary school. Please ask your student if they have any books still from last year. Did you know? If the books are returned to Rocky Run, we can send them back to the elementary school.

7. After-School Program Information

Important Program Information:

• Schedule for the week of 9/16
• Not all clubs will start this week - check the preliminary club list on Schoology for all of the clubs that we currently have scheduled for this year.  That list is updated frequently!
• 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!
• 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.

Club Sign-Up Forms:

• Most clubs are open enrollment, but some will require a sign-up.
• New club sign-up forms are posted on Schoology for: Paper Quilling & Creativity Club.  Students must be logged into their fcpsschools account to access those forms.

Cross Country Information:

• Practice begins on Monday!  Students cannot practice if they have not submitted all completed forms. 
• The hard deadline for form submission is Monday, 9/16, at 3 PM. No exceptions!  At that time, our roster will be closed for the fall season.
• Cross Country Information can be reviewed in this slide deck.
• Cross Country Questions?  Check out the MS Athletics page or contact our Athletic Coordinator, Katy Speir, at [email protected].

After-School Program Questions?  Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at [email protected]

8. Community Corner Asha Jyothi Annual 5K and 1K

Asha Jyothi has generously provided support for Rocky Run and other schools in our community, including sponsoring our amazing Inspiration Studio! Pleaes consider participating in their annual 5K fundraiser on Sunday, September 15th. The fun run will begin at 8am and the 5K will begin at 8:30am. To learn more and register, visit their site or click the image below.

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

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Table of Contents 1. Important Dates 2. A Note from the Principal 3. Action Items for Families 4. Student Recognition 5. Student Services Updates 6. Instructional Updates 7. After-School Updates 8. Community Corner 1. Important Dates

September 9 - After-School Program & Late Buses Begin

September 12- Sweet Frog Fundraiser for Day of Service (all day!)

October 3 - No School (Holiday)

October 4 - No School (Teacher Workday)

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

The RRMS staff thoroughly enjoyed connecting with families during our Back To School Night presentation this past Thursday. It is always energizing to welcome the community into our school to highlight all the amazing things going on at Rocky Run. I am not being hyperbolic when I say that we have the BEST teachers in FCPS. Hopefully, you got a glimpse of it this past Thursday. If you were unable to attend, please take a few minutes to watch our introductory video to meet members of the leadership team. Additional resources from the event can be found on our website.

Establishing and maintaining a positive two-way communication structure is one of our school priorities, and it doesn't end after Back to School Night. Be on the lookout for upcoming parent coffees and team newsletters throughout the year. 

Lastly, I want to share expectations moving forward regarding student attendance at Chantilly High School sporting events. Spectators are not permitted to bring backpacks or water bottles to any sporting events at CHS. Middle schoolers are welcomed at any CHS games, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. We are all part of the larger Charger community. Please help us maintain order and provide a supportive environment for all fans by following this expectation.

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

• Digital resource consent: Please go here to give your student consent to use digital resources at Rocky Run.
• After School Registration: The After School Registration form is required for ALL students, regardless of intent to participate!
• The library is looking for puzzle donations! If you have any that are 300-750 pieces that you are no longer using, please contact Mrs. Grover ([email protected]). Thank you!

The Spirit Wear store is open! Visit the spirit wear website before sales end on Saturday, September 14. The next time the store will be open is mid-November for holiday purchases. All proceeds benefit the Rocky Run PTA.

4. Student Celebrations RAISE the Ram Card Winners

Congratulations to this week's Ram card winners:

June Pichtel (Engaged)

Baxter Blevins (Engaged)

Daniel Padilla Mejia (Engaged)

Roy Kachale Banda (Accountable)

Molly Smith (Engaged)

Luke Perriello (Engaged)

Great job Raising the Ram!

5. Student Services Updates World Languages Credit by Exam Registration: Reminders & Updates

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.

• Counselors are beginning to register students.  You will get an email and a paper confirmation; note that the test date of 11/06/24 is when the test window opens; we will share exact testing dates later.  Assessments will take place at Rocky Run Middle School during a school day in November.
• 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:

Esther Bae (Meteors & Tiger’s Eye) – [email protected]

Halissa Jacobson (Platinum & Kryptonite) – [email protected]

Lorraine Marshall (Emerald & Sapphire) – [email protected]

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. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. Division and school level results, which do not include individual student information, may be used by staff to improve SEL and mental wellness practices and to inform strategic plans. For more information about the SEL Screener, including the Screener questions, please visit the FCPS Website. 

Rocky Run Middle School will give the Fall 2024 SEL Screener on October 10, 2024. Please complete this Google Form ONLY if you DO NOT want your child to participate in the Screener: Rocky Run SEL Screener OPT-OUT Form

Advanced Academic Program Referrals

Parents or guardians of seventh and eighth-grade students NEW to FCPS as of January 2024 who were not screened in Spring 2024 may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

Parents or guardians of seventh-grade students who are NOT NEW to FCPS may initiate screening for full-time AAP services by submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form (multiple languages are available at this link) to Rocky Run’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Anna Slevin ([email protected]), by Sunday, December 15, 2024.  Please view AAP Testing and Identification Timelines for more information. 

Make Every Day Count! The Importance of Attendance

Did you know that September is Attendance Awareness Month? As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during breaks from school. 

Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.

Learn how families can help form good attendance habits.

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:

• Make a monetary donation for the 8th grade’s event with Rise Against Hunger here: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/RockyRunMiddleSchool2024

(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 [email protected]

Support our fundraisers for this event! All of the funds raised go towards the packing event with Rise Against Hunger:

• Thursday September 12th all day at Sweetfrog in Greenrbiar  - mention Rocky Run when you pay and 25% of your purchase will go to the Day of Service!
• Sunday September 29th 4-8pm at the Chipotle on Newbrook Dr. (by Wegmans)  - tell the cashier you are there for Rocky Run and we get 25% back! (Online order code is 62V7AXB)
• Monday October 7th – Virtual Fundraiser with Panda Express – order online for delivery or pick-up using the code 925833 and 28% of sales are donated! Share with friends and family nationwide!

Library Happenings

• The library has had a busy start to the school year! Students are visiting the space before school and with their English classes for library orientation. They are learning how to navigate the library, how to do self-checkout, and the many ways they can make our library a great place to be. Be sure to ask your student about their experience in the library.
• Did You Know? There is lots of information about our library on the Rocky Run website for families, including Frequently Asked Questions and links to helpful resources. Check out the library page today to learn more about how the library supports your student’s academic and personal growth at Rocky Run.

7. After-School Program Information

Important Program Information:

• Schedule for the week of 9/9
  • Not all clubs will start this week - check the preliminary club list on Schoology for all of the clubs that we currently have scheduled for this year.  That list is updated frequently!
• 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!
• 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.

Club Sign-Up Forms:

• Most clubs are open enrollment, but some will require a sign-up.
• Retro Video Gaming - sign up will open on Friday, 9/6, at 3:30 PM.  Students must be logged into their fcpsschools account to access the form.
• Math Olympiad Family Interest Meeting will be held VIRTUALLY on 9/11 at 7 PM.  Sign up here for the interest meeting so we can send you the meeting link.

Cross Country Information:

• Practice begins on Monday!  Students cannot practice if they have not submitted all completed forms. 
  • The hard deadline for form submission is Monday, 9/16, at 3 PM. No exceptions!  At that time, our roster will be closed for the fall season.
• Cross Country Information can be reviewed in this slide deck.
• Cross Country Questions?  Check out the MS Athletics page or contact our Athletic Coordinator, Katy Speir, at [email protected].

After-School Program Questions?  Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at [email protected]

8. Community Corner Asha Jyothi Annual 5K and 1K

Asha Jyothi has generously provided support for Rocky Run and other schools in our community, including sponsoring our amazing Inspiration Studio! Pleaes consider participating in their annual 5K fundraiser on Sunday, September 15th. The fun run will begin at 8am and the 5K will begin at 8:30am. To learn more and register, visit their site or click the image below.

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
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Back to School Night

We look forward to seeing everyone at Back to School Night this Thursday, September 5th, 6-8 PM. If you are unable to attend, we will post our Back to School slides in Schoology after the event. 

The following information will assist you in your planning:

• Please bring your child's schedule so you can visit his/her classes from 6 to 8 PM. You can access your child's schedule via SIS ParentVue and/or your child can share a paper copy of his/her schedule that they created during Rock Time today. 
• First period begins at 6 PM and transition time is 4 minutes between classes. 
• Parking is limited at Rocky Run MS. Additional parking is available at  Greenbriar West ES. Carpooling and walking to this event is encouraged. 
• Optional sessions begin at 5 PM including TJ Admissions Info Session, FLE presentation and ESOL department presentation. 
• Counselors, After-school Specialist, Technology Specialist and Public Health Nurse will be available during the event. 

TJHSST Admissions Information Session

Representatives from the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be coming to RRMS to present information about 2024-25 admissions process on Thursday, September 5 at 5-6 PM (before our BTSN). Parents/guardians and students of current 8th graders who meet the course requirements (see eligibility requirements) are encouraged to attend. In addition, families of current 7th graders who are curious about the process may attend as well. Please fill out the google form to notify us of your attendance so that we may plan our space accordingly. 

A YouTube video is posted on the TJ Admissions website and families are advised to view this prior to attending the presentation meeting. Admissions calendars and application process can be found here. 

If you have questions specific to the admissions process, please reach out to the TJ Admissions Office. If you have questions about an individual student’s courses, please contact your child’s counselor.

Quick Links

• Family Resource Center

• Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms

• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• SIS ParentVUE
• Standard School Year Calendar

4400 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 | Main Office: 703-802-7700
Attendance: 703-802-7782 or [email protected] 
Web | Twitter