1. Important Dates

August 31 - Cross Country Team Student Interest Meeting, during all lunch periods

September 3 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm

September 4 - No School

September 7 - No School

September 14 - After-School Program & Late Buses Begin

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families,

I hope that you have enjoyed your summer vacation and are looking forward to the new school year. Staff and teachers have been busy planning for your return and working hard to make sure the school year is filled with exciting and engaging learning opportunities. It was energizing to see so many of you at Rams Rally this past Thursday!

We are excited to welcome all of our students and parents to Rocky Run Middle School on Monday! I encourage you to visit the school website at https://rockyrunms.fcps.edu, where you can find helpful information including the bell schedule, calendar, blue/gold calendar, and more.

This year, we will welcome over 950 students to RRMS. The vibrant culture of the school will be evident as we return our amazing students to learning and school activities. We will emphasize building relationships and cultivating a sense of belonging. We will continue implementing a sound instructional program, including an emphasis on student engagement in the classroom. We will have a focus on ensuring regular school attendance and positive approaches to student behavior and school climate. We strive to ensure a positive school culture where students thrive and enjoy learning at RRMS, and we will work hard to make sure all students are successful.

The first day of school is Monday, August 24, and will be a Blue Day. Transportation information was communicated directly to families last week. If you opt to use the Kiss and Ride, please take a few minutes to watch this video to familiarize yourself with our procedures. The weather on Monday will be nice, so I hope that many students take the opportunity to walk or bike to school.

Students will rotate through periods 1, 3, 5, and 7. School hours for students are 7:30am – 2:15pm. Students may enter the building starting at 7:05am and will proceed through our Open Gate. Please take a few minutes to watch this video for tips on Open Gate. Prior to walking through the towers, students will be asked to remove all three-ring binders, umbrellas and (eventually) laptops due to the fact that those items set off the towers. They will hand these items to the staff member near the tower. We advise students to wear their backpacks on the front of their bodies (kangaroo style) when moving through the towers. We recommend that all families speak with their students about these procedures and reference the FAQs.

Once through the towers, 1st period locations will be posted in the main hallway and official schedules will be distributed in 1st period. Schedules are also available in SIS. Students can carry backpacks throughout the day, and laptops will be distributed during the first week of school.

Back to School Night will take place on Thursday, September 3, beginning at 6:00pm. I highly encourage all parents to attend Back to School Night as this is a great opportunity for us to build community in the school and for you to connect with teachers and other parents.

I look forward to meeting members of the community, so please do not hesitate to say hello when you see me at school events. A strong connection between the school and family is critical to student success, and we are committed to that connection. If you have questions, please contact your student’s counselor, teachers, or administrative staff throughout the year. Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! It is going to be a great year!

Sincerely,

Peter Kownacki
Principal
Rocky Run Middle School

3. Action Items for Families

Please make sure the enrolling parent in your family has a SIS ParentVUE account. If you do not have access to ParentVUE, please contact our Student Services Assistant, Kelly Brown at klbrown4@fcps.edu.
Complete the digital consent forms for your child. You will use your ParentVUE username and password to login to the Parent Digital Consent. Here you will provide consent for your child to use many of our digital resources and give your permission for retakes of state assessments. In addition, you have the option to opt your child out of various things such as Family Life Education and SEL Screener participation.

Thank you for your help in getting these done!

Join the PTA. Make a Difference.

Your membership helps make RRMS a great place to learn and grow! Membership dues help fund programs and events that enrich our students' experience, including Teacher Appreciation, Career Day, the 8th Grade Celebration, author visits, and more. There is no commitment to volunteer, but we welcome volunteers to help us plan fun events for the Rams community! Join us September 10 in the library or on Zoom for our first PTA meeting and a meet-and-greet with Principal Kownacki.

This year's special fundraising goal: Bring back an author visit for our students! Join the PTA, and if you’re able, add a donation to help us fund the cost of this event. We also welcome business donations if your company can help sponsor our community events or even match the cost of your membership/donation.