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May 12-13 - SOL Makeups
May 14 - Math SOL
May 15-16 - SOL Makeups
May 21 - 8th Grade NJHS Ceremony, 3 PM
May 22 - Last Day of After-School Activities and Late Buses
May 29 - 8th Grade Spring Family Night, 6:00-7:30pm
May 30 - 8th Grade End of Year Party, 6 - 8 PM
2. A Note from the Principal
Dear Rocky Run Community-
We had a busy week at Rocky Run! Since 1984, National PTA has designated one week in May as Teacher Appreciation Week. National Teacher Day (May 6) began in 1953 when former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt proposed that Congress set aside a day to acknowledge the work of educators. Additionally, National School Nurse Day was Wednesday, May 7. It is a day to recognize the many contributions that school nurses make to student health and learning. FCPS appreciates the role of School Public Health Nurses (PHNs) for their contribution to the health and welfare of all our students. This week, we showed our appreciation to ALL RRMS staff members by hosting daily events (in partnership with the PTA). We had a staff BBQ, dessert table, breakfast buffet, etc! One week is clearly not enough, but nonetheless, I wanted to make it a memorable week!
In addition to celebrating our amazing Ram teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, students took the Reading and Science 8 SOL exams on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. Looking ahead to next week, all students will take their Math SOL. Teachers will report scores as an ungraded assignment in SIS starting on May 14. We will run make-up exams and expedited retakes for eligible students in the following weeks.
My week ended with the annual music department field trip to King Dominion. Over 60% of the students at Rocky Run participate in band, orchestra, or chorus. I'm told that the building is pretty empty on the day of the trip! I wouldn't know because I always eagerly volunteer to chaperone the trip and ride the thrill rides with the students.
Finally, I'd like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all Ram Moms in the community on Sunday, May 11.
As always, thank you for your continued partnership and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions. I look forward to seeing you at RRMS soon.
Sincerely,
Peter Kownacki
Principal
Rocky Run Middle School
@pakownacki
3. Action Items for Families
Shhh! It's a Surprise!
Our Rams have had an amazing year, and we want to celebrate them! We are asking each family to write a letter to their child via a Google form submission. Each student will receive their letter at their team's end of year awards ceremony. Letters may include why you are proud of your child, how you have seen them grow this school year, what you hope for them in the future, etc. Please complete this End of Year Family Letter Form by Friday, May 23rd.
It’s Not too Late to Order Your 2025 Yearbook – Don’t Miss a Memory!
In-person orders for the 2025 yearbook will be accepted until the end of the year or until we sell out. Please bring $35 cash or check made out to Rocky Run Middle School to Ms. Valade in Room 125.
Additionally, you can now purchase a yearbook on MySchoolBucks through the school store!
Yearbooks will be distributed to students in school at the end of the year.
Questions? Please email Ms. Valade at jmvalade@fcps.edu
Save the date!
8th Grade Spring Family Night will be held on Thursday, May 29th from 6-7:30. We hope to see you there! Keep watching this space for more updates!
4. Student Celebrations
 Mark your calendars for our 8th Grade End of Year Party. This event is only open to current Rocky Run 8th graders (no former students, family members, siblings, etc.). More details are coming soon.
5. Student Services Updates
Spring Standards of Learning (SOL)
This week, students took Reading SOLs (Grades 7 and 8) and Science SOLs (Grade 8).
The last SOL for Rocky Run Middle School is:
- May 14 – Math SOL (Math7 – Algebra 2)
Retake Parent Permissions Needed:
Retesting is available with parent permission when a student fails their first SOL attempt with a score of 375-399. (A score of 400 is considered passing for SOL tests.) To better facilitate the remediation and retake process, we need to know ahead of time if you give your child permission to retest. If you haven’t already, please submit your decision using the Parent Digital Consent application (https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/digital-resources/consent). (You will need your SIS ParentVUE account login.) Alternatively, if you do not have a ParentVUE account, you can submit your decision on this GOOGLE FORM. We will notify you in May if your child qualifies for a retest.
If you have questions about state assessments, contact your student’s counselor or Ashleigh Kim (askim@fcps.edu), the school test coordinator.
Spring 2025 Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, 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 school counselor with any questions.
6. Instructional Updates
Library Updates
The end of the school year is quickly approaching! The deadline for all FCPS students to return library books is Wednesday, May 28. Please check with your student to make a plan to return all books. Mrs. Grover will visit all English classes in the next two weeks to talk with students who still have books from first semester. Can’t find a book? Please contact Mrs. Grover to arrange a solution (ragrover@fcps.edu).
7. After-School Program Information
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After-School Schedule: Week of 5/12
- Upcoming high school opportunities are linked on the After-School Schoology Course.
- Mark your calendars: the last day of after-school activities for this school year will be Thursday, 5/22.
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Sports Physical Information:
- Each spring, FCPS high schools offer pre-participation physical exams for student-athletes. Middle school student-athletes are eligible to receive an athletic physical free of charge through this program. If you are interested in this opportunity, please do the following:
- NOTE: Legislation introduced in the Virginia General Assembly and recently signed into law will result in two significant changes to the athletic pre-participation examination (physical) requirements for FCPS student-athletes:
- Beginning July 1, 2025, athletic physicals will be considered valid for a period of 14 months from the date the form is signed by the medical provider completing the exam. This is the date on page 3 of the FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parent Consent/Physical Examination Form (revised January 2021).
- Beginning May 1, 2025, FCPS student-athletes are EXPECTED to have athletic physicals completed on the new FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Evaluation Form (revised April 2025).
- 2025-2026 Update: In the past, only our Cross Country and Track and Field participants needed an athletic physical, but due to changes in legislation, any middle school student who participates in a sport that leads to an interscholastic competition is required to have a physical before try outs. This includes our after-school intermural sports teams - possibilities include basketball, volleyball, and/ or futsal.
- Middle School Sports Physical Information & Links
- High School Sports Physical Information & Links
- Having the athletic physical exam completed at one of our high school events ensures a complete, valid physical is on file and ready to go next fall. Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell (SLCampbell@fcps.edu).
After-School Program Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu
What are your rising 7th & 8th graders doing this summer?
Like you, we believe your child is a very important person and deserves a summer experience that is safe and full of fitness, friends, fun and enrichment. FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5-week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders in the Western Fairfax area. Campers will have a great time participating in sports, games, fitness, art, and STEM activities in a safe environment. The program is led by FCPS After-School and DNCS Teen/Community Center Staff.
Camp Details:
- Dates - Tuesday, July 1st - Thursday, July 31st
- NO camp on July 4th
- 9:00 AM - 4:00PM (Site opens at 8:00AM for drop off)
- Location – Rocky Run Middle School, 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly
- Bus Transportation will be provided from feeder middle schools and other selected stops
- Cost – $100* for all 5 weeks (this does not include field trips)
- *Scholarships are available for families who require financial assistance
- This camp serves rising 7th and 8th grade (2025-2026 school year) students who reside in the Franklin, Katherine Johnson, Liberty, Rocky Run and Stone Middle School boundaries.
Camp Registration:
As you are aware, registrations for the 2025 VIP Summer Camps have been on hold as this program may not be available or may be restructured. As of May 6th, the Board of Supervisors is proposing to restore funding for the Middle School After-School Program. If the budget is adopted on May 13th, then VIP Summer Camp will be ON for this summer.
- May 7th: Families will receive a News You Choose email from Western Fairfax VIP
- May 13th: Board of Supervisors adopts the 2025-2026 budget
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May 14th at 6 PM: VIP Camp registration opens
Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell, our After-School Program Specialist, at SLCampbell@fcps.edu.
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Congratulations to our Girls Volleyball Team on a great season! |
Congratulations to our Boys Volleyball Team - the 2025 Western Fairfax Boys Volleyball Champions! |
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Congratulations to our Technology Student Association (TSA) team members as they came home with quite a few awards from the State Tournament last weekend! Big thank you to Mrs. Kronimus for her leadership and support of all of our STEM-related after-school activities! |
8. Community Corner
Quick Links
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