Rockburn Report

Hello Rockburn Families,

Well, the weather really doesn't want us to have a full week! We hope that you are all staying safe in the snow and ice. Looks like a warming trend is coming..fingers crossed!

Don't forget PTA pop up spirit day: To help celebrate the upcoming read-a-thon, the PTA is hosting a pop-up spirit day on Thursday, February 26th. Come dressed to school like your favorite book character. Then, wear your costume that evening to our book fair at Barnes & Noble.

Family Fun Night Reminder: A HUGE thank you to all of the families who donated materials for Family Fun Night- it was greatly appreciated! It was great fun seeing all of the families! Please take our quick feedback form to help us plan for next year!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.

Thank you to all of our families who are following our drop-off and pick-up procedures, supporting the staff on duty, and showing kindness to our staff and crossing guard. Your cooperation makes a huge difference in keeping our students safe and helping traffic move smoothly.

We do need to remind everyone that if you choose to drop off or pick up your child from school, it is essential to follow the directions posted in the picture below that was shared at the beginning of the year, as well as those directions given by our staff on duty. This means not parking or dropping students off in undesignated areas, including Montgomery Road. We also ask that everyone always moves all the way up to the end of the line. We need to get as many cars as possible off of Montgomery Road so traffic doesn’t get backed up on the street. All students (including RECC) will follow the same traffic pattern.

Staff are outside each day to help manage traffic flow and, most importantly, to keep our students safe. Please remember that staff members and crossing guards should always be treated with kindness and respect. Following the established traffic flow is essential for both the safety of our students and the efficient movement of vehicles during arrival and dismissal. With everyone’s cooperation, we can ensure a safer and smoother process for all.

Thank you for your continued support in making RES a safe place for every student.

Our 4th graders participating in Unheard Perspectives have worked hard to prepare their presentations! They've started sharing information with students and staff on the morning announcements. We look forward to sharing that information with our broader school community. Here are some Spotlight Black Innovators, researched and written by our fourth graders!

She was a nurse and an inventor who filed a patent in 1966 for the first-ever home security system! She wanted to increase her homes security in her Queens, New York, neighborhood. She worked every day as a nurse, and her work schedule did not always allow her to come home during daylight hours.

The crime rate in her neighborhood was very high. She didn’t always feel safe. She wanted to know who was at her home and to have the ability to contact authorities quickly if someone was in her home that wasn’t welcome.

Her original design contained a camera, a two-way microphone, peepholes, and monitors, all serving as the foundations for today’s modern systems like the Ring doorbell

Innovators like Marie Van Brittan Brown have made our world a better, safer place. She saw a need for change, and she developed a way to help not only her, but others too.

She is a computer scientist who got her degree from Brown University. She was the Chief Digital Service Officer for the United States Department of Education during the Obama administration.

Lisa Gelobter has worked 25 years in the software industry, and invented products that have been used by millions of people! She was closely involved with the 1995 creation of “Shockwave” as a software engineer. That’s the technology that helped to develop web animation. (Think all those GIFs we know and love). She also helped launch Hulu and served on the senior management team. Without her contributions, streaming and other cool things we do on our phones, iPads, tablets, and computers would not even exist!

She was quoted in the Black Wall Street Times saying: “I’m inspired by the younger generation. I believe that we can learn a lot from them. I feel like they don’t adhere to our standards and norms. They are about making change and questioning the status quo. I really appreciate it and I want to encourage them to continue to do two things: be true to themselves and make a social impact.”

A design that contributed to saving lives was Alexander Miles’s elevator design. Before him, elevators were operated manually; people had to open and close the doors of both the elevator and the shaft by hand every time. Miles realized the constant hazard this posed when riding on an elevator with the shaft door open with his daughter. In 1887, he got the patent for his invention including a flexible belt attached to the elevator cage, allowing the doors to function automatically. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007.

We love our Rockburn families and all of the traditions you celebrate. We value all the many cultures in our building and want to hear from you, our treasured families. We want to learn more about you and highlight our families in our Rockburn Report.

Thanks to those that have already shared your amazing traditions. If you haven't already, please fill out the google form,

Please fill out this google form so we can learn more! RES Family Traditions

Do you have a kindergartener who will be attending Rockburn next year, 2026-2027? If yes, come join us, the Kindergarten Team, March 5th from 5-6:30 pm in the Cafeteria. (This event is for future kindergarteners and not current kindergarteners!) Drop in at any time during the evening to verify your incoming student’s registration, meet some teachers, and build a toolkit to prepare for Kindergarten. We recommend you complete registration prior to the event or bring a non-cellphone device with you to complete the online portion of registration. You will also need your driver's license. Note that the registration for 2026-27 incoming kindergarteners will begin March 2nd. Please do not register prior to this date.

*We are looking for help spreading the word about this event. If you are a parent of an incoming kindergartener and would be willing to pass out fliers to other Rockburn families, please let me, Mrs. Crance (Schmid) know so I can send some home to you. (My email is stephanie_schmid@hcpss.org)

The Rockburn Early Childhood Classes are making preparations for the upcoming 2026-20207. Beginning in mid February applications for general education students to participate as peers through the Learning Together Program (LTP) will become available. These classes include general education and special education students. The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills. Parents of children who will be 3 by September 1st, may apply.

For more information and to apply for LTP visit: HCPSS Learning Together Program

In alignment with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future, new applications for students turning 4 by September 1 are not available. The Howard County Public School System continues to offer Prekindergarten for income eligible children who will be 4 years old by September 1. For additional information contact the school or visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/

Prize cart is back! Kids have the opportunity to trade in their tickets at the prize cart one week each month. We love to have two volunteers for each grade to help facilitate. If you are able/willing to volunteer, please use this sheet to sign up.

RES Prize Cart

*don't forget to do your volunteer training if you're coming in. See our website for more details.

Get your Rockburn gear here! Happy Shopping!

RES Spirit wear

Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family FileLinks to an external site. are available online.

One exciting new feature is that families now can submit a change of address via Family File, rather than completing a separate form and sending to their school. Full directions and information for familiesLinks to an external site. on this new process can be found online.

HCPSS families are invited to attend the 2026 Family Academy Conference on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 5:30–8:30 pm at Long Reach High School. This free, districtwide event brings families, educators, and community partners together for an evening of learning, connection, and support. Families can enjoy a light dinner, a community resource fair, interactive workshops focused on academic achievement and well-being, and free childcare. Workshops will include topics such as college and career readiness, special education supports, curriculum updates, and hands-on learning strategies for use at home. Interpretation services will be available. For additional information, please contact BSAP Supervisor, Nicole Brown.

Register online: EnglishLinks to an external site., EspañolLinks to an external site., 中文Links to an external site., 한국어Links to an external site.

Flyers are available in EnglishLinks to an external site., EspañolLinks to an external site., 中文Links to an external site., 한국어Links to an external site.

March

• 3 - Schools dismiss 3 hours early - professional learning/wellness day
• 20 - Schools closed for students - Professional work day
• 28 - Spring Break Starts

SPRING BREAK: March 28 - April 6

April

• 7 - First day back from Spring Break
• 14 - End of 3rd quarter
• 15 - Schools closed for students - professional work day

February 9 - https://app.smore.com/n/h3ac7-rockburn-report

January 20 - https://app.smore.com/n/dgfca-rockburn-report

The PTA has begun planning staff appreciation week for this year, and like in the past, we are planning on assembling 72 gift baskets to raffle off to our wonderful staff during the week. In order to do this, we need your help. Please consider purchasing items from our wish list, which will be delivered directly to the PTA. Thank you for your support!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3SUFF606015LA?ref_=wl_share

The annual read-a-thon is coming up and to get ready for it, please join the PTA at the Ellicott City Barnes & Noble book fair. On Thursday, February 26th, starting at 5:00 pm, join us for a special night of guest readers, student musical performances, arts and crafts, and an appearance from Rocky the Raccoon!

Cannot join us that evening, don't worry, you can shop in person at the Ellicott City Barnes & Noble all day on February 26th and 27th. Reference Rockburn PTA for a portion of your sales to be donated back to the school.

To help celebrate the upcoming read-a-thon, the PTA is hosting a pop-up spirit day on Thursday, February 26th. Come dressed to school like your favorite book character. Then, wear your costume that evening to our book fair at Barnes & Noble.

It is once again time for Rocky's Rockburn Reading Challenge! From March 1st to March 27th, we invite the Rockburn community to come together to help us reach our goal of reading 50,000 minutes and raising money to support the PTA, which in turn supports all of the students and staff at Rockburn. Although the official logging of reading minutes will not begin until March 1st, you can create your account and start getting donations right now! There will be prizes for every student that logs at least one minute and raises at least $1, for students that log 400 minutes, for the student in each grade that logs the most amount of minutes, for the class that reads the most, and for the class that raises the most amount of money! Create your account today at https://rfms.app/01228 using code 01228, and join us for Rocky's Rockburn Reading Challenge!

The Rockburn PTA is happy to once again host movie night. Please save the date of Friday, March 13th for this evening. More details will be coming soon.

The 2025-2026 PTA Membership Drive has begun. Your PTA contribution and membership helps fund many programs throughout the year such as Cultural Arts assemblies, Family Involvement events, Back to School Celebration, Fall Festival, Holiday Shop, Bingo Night, Movie Night, Sports Park NIght, 5th grade signature shirts, school gifts, staff appreciation, and enhancements to our recess and PE programs. All parents are encouraged to join the PTA.

You can pay your annual membership dues online via our MemberHub store (https://rockburnpta.givebacks.com/shop). You can also make a direct donation to the PTA there.