Rocky Run MS Updates 10/2
Learn more about events at RRMS!

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1. Important Dates

October 9 - No After-School Activities - all students depart at 2:15 PM

October 12 - Student Holiday

October 15 - PTA Meeting, 7 PM, Library

October 26 and 27 - Fall Pictures (during students' PE classes)

October 30 - End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release, No After-School Program, Career Day

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families,

We had a busy week at Rocky Run Middle School, highlighted by a visit form Dr. Reid on Tuesday. It was a pleasure to walk around the school with her and showcase the amazing instruction that happens everyday. We popped into an English 7 classroom and participated in a discussion about supporting claims with evidence and reasoning. We had a blast in Science 7, checking the PH and Nitrate balances in water tanks. We practiced proofs in Geometry and even made memes with students in Civics class to deepen our understanding of the political process. 

I'd like to take a moment to recognize the hard work of our custodial staff! Each year, October 2 is recognized as National Custodian Appreciation Day. Our team is hands down the hardest working team in FCPS! They keep our building immaculate and they take immense pride in their work. Thanks to Tuan, Will, Deysi, Huu, Khang, Quoc and Roberto! They ALWAYS Raise the Ram at Rocky Run.

Looking ahead to the end of October, Rocky Run will host our third annual Career Day on the last day of the quarter, October 30. The day will be filled with opportunities for all students to provide service to the school and the community. We are still looking for community volunteers to participate in the event. if you'd like to learn more, fill out this google form.

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

3. Action Items for Families

Upcoming Tardy Sweeps

Families, we have noticed an increase in the number of students who are not moving efficiently to class and instead are lingering in the hallway and then rushing to class, and arriving late which is making hallway behavior challenging and disrupting the learning environment in classrooms. In order to build better habits, during the week of October 5–9, Rocky Run will conduct periodic Tardy Sweeps to help students arrive to class on time and maximize instructional time. When a Tardy Sweep is announced, teachers will be instructed to close their doors and not let students into class. Instead, students who are still in the hallways after the tardy bell will be directed to a designated location to check in before returning to class. Students who are caught in a Tardy Sweep will also be required to attend a Lunch & Learn session focused on time management and strategies for getting to class on time. Our goal is to reduce classroom disruptions while helping students build positive habits around responsibility, organization, and time management. Families can support this effort by reminding students of the importance of moving promptly between classes and being in class and ready to learn when the bell rings.

Career Day Volunteers Needed!

Rocky Run's Career Day will take place on Friday October 30, 2026. We need your help to make it a success! Please volunteer to speak with our students on Career Day!

Use this form to sign-up to share your career or job with Rocky Run students: https://forms.gle/22umhSzdmnHtcdxe9

The event will run from about 8:00am-12:00pm, but volunteers do not need to commit for the entire time frame. Presentations will be to small groups and in a career fair setting. At this time please let us know if you are willing and available to present and save the date on your calendar!

Please reach out to Halissa Jacobson at hdjacobson@fcps.edu or Anna Slevin agslevin@fcps.edu if you have questions or would like more information.  Thank you!

4. Student Celebrations

Congratulations to Rocky Run TSA!

The Rocky Run TSA (Technology Student Association) had 30 students attend the National Competition in National Harbor this past June. Students competed in over 20 events, and had five teams reach semi-finals, and three received top ten finishes.

Rocky Run TSA participants

RAISE the Ram Card Winners

At Rocky Run, students can earn RAISE the Ram cards for exhibiting our RAISE attributes: Rams are Respectful, Accountable, Inclusive, Safe, and Engaged. At the end of each week, we randomly select one winner from each team.

Congratulations to this week's RAISE the Ram card winners:

Meteors: Avani Chand (Respectful and Engaged)

Platinum: Zoe Campoverde (Engaged)

Emerald: Ariana Jain (Engaged)

Kryptonite: JJ Lopez (Engaged)

Tiger's Eye:Braelyn Banks (Engaged)

Sapphire: Xander Try (Respectful)

Great job Raising The Ram this week!

Raise the Ram card winners for October 2

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 Tuesday, November 17, 2026 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 your child will not participate in the screener) by completing the Google Form.  

Social-Emotional Learning Screener

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) believes in supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students. In FCPS, students use a tool called the SEL Screener to think about their own SEL skills and experiences at school. Rocky Run Middle School students in grades 7 and 8 will be participating in the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener in the Fall and Spring.  Our Fall 26 administration date is October 14, 2026, during Rock Time. 

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information about the SEL Screener, please visit the FCPS Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.  If you would like your student to opt out of taking the SEL Screener, please log into the FCPS Digital Consent System. 

World Language Credit By Exam

Students who are proficient in a language other than English can assess language proficiency and earn up to 3 high school world language high school credits by taking the World Language Credit by Exam assessment.  To learn more about the exam and how earned credits work, please visit the FCPS World Languages Credit by Exam website.

If you and your student would like to register for the exam, please fill out this Google Form and your child’s counselor will submit the registration. Expect to receive a registration confirmation email within 1-2 school days of submitting the form. Parents / students must complete the google form by 8 AM Friday October 16, no late registrations will be accepted.

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:

6. Instructional Updates

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Inspira Dance Studio is coming to Rocky Run on Friday, October 9th! All Spanish students will be invited to join us during Rock Time for a fun, interactive dance class featuring Hispanic dances from around the world. It will be a fun way for students to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month together!

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window for Students New to FCPS Closes on October 15

The fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3-8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Anna Slevin, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at agslevin@fcps.edu by October 15, 2026. Late referrals will not be accepted.

7. After School Program Information

After-School Schedule: Week of 9/28

Preliminary Club List & Details - this is updated frequently so check back often as new clubs will be added! 

Next Steps:

  • If you haven't yet completed the After-School Registration Form, you must do so before your student stays after.  Take 30 seconds and complete it today so your student doesn't miss any opportunities!  Less than 200 to go! 
  • Once your student sees a club that they are interested in, they should plan on attending.  Most clubs are open enrollment, but some have a selection process and once those rosters are selected, the club is closed.  Students will get details at the interest meetings.
  • Program details can be found here.  Review this weekend so you and your student are familiar with how the program runs, how pick-ups work, etc.
  • Late bus routes are posted on the After-School Schoology Course (all students and parents are enrolled).
  • If you are interested in a club and it's not on the schedule for next week, check the preliminary club list as it may be starting at a later date.  Not all clubs start in September so be sure that your student has a plan of what they are attending if they plan on staying.  Rams Room is always available in the cafeteria to get some homework done, get organized, play board games with friends quietly.
  • The student club proposal form will be shared on Schoology on 9/18.  Students must be logged into their fcpsschools account to access that form.

MS Sports - Cross Country in the Fall - Roster Cutoff Deadlines is Approaching (October 5)

In addition to the After-School Program, all middle schools in Fairfax County have interscholastic sports activities.  Currently we have Cross Country in the Fall, Volleyball in the Winter, our annual Basketball game against Franklin MS (date/season TBD), and Track & Field in the Spring. These require an additional registration and a sports physical.  

Next Steps:

For more information on FCPS Middle School Sports, go to the Student Athlete page of the FCPS website. or contact Shannon Campbell, our After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu, or Nick Reed, our Athletic Coordinator, at NFReed1@fcps.edu.  

8. FCPS Updates

FCPS Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP Centers

FCPS is exploring a plan to offer Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services at every middle school. Under the proposal, students who qualify could attend their neighborhood middle school and take advanced classes with other AAP students. The School Board has approved community engagement at Franklin, Hayfield, Holmes, Key, and Whitman middle schools, where programs could open for the 2027-28 school year. The proposal is still under consideration, and the School Board is expected to make a decision in December.

Each community meeting offers in-person and virtual participation. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:

  • Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
  • Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
  • Whitman Middle: Thursday, October 22, at 6 p.m.

Current middle school students will remain at their assigned AAP centers through middle school. Learn more and find meeting sign-up forms on the Middle School AAP Centers page.

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.

Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr

FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place. 

Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff. 

Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place on this day. 

A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings. 

Safe Routes to School Parent and Caregiver Survey

As part of the Fairfax County School Board’s Annual School-Based Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are inviting parents and caregivers to share their experiences traveling to and from school.

The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss and ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns. 

Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15. 

Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school. 

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu. 

9. Community Corner

October PTA Events

All October — No Fuss Fund