The Rowers Report

Happy Friday, Pirate Families – Let’s Go Pirates! 🏴‍☠️💚💛

I hope this newsletter finds you gearing up for a great weekend. I wanted to take a moment to share some of the wonderful things happening on our campus this week.

Attendance Wins

We are thrilled to share that our attendance stayed above 95% all week! On Thursday, September 5th, we reached an outstanding 97% attendance. This is a huge accomplishment, as research consistently shows the powerful link between strong attendance and student achievement. To celebrate this milestone, our students enjoyed a Pajama Day today! We love finding creative ways to celebrate our students and highlight the greatness we know they are capable of.

A Book for Parents

This week, I also began reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The book explores the impact of computers, the internet, and social media on generations who grew up in the late 1990s and beyond. It offers important insights into how technology affects our children today.

I’d like to invite any parents who are interested to join me in reading along. Each week, I’ll share key takeaways in this newsletter. If there’s enough interest, I’d love to start a parent book club to discuss the ideas together. I’ve included a graphic in this edition that helps explain what anxiety is, as a starting point for reflection.

Looking Ahead

Pep Rally – Our first pep rally of the year will be held on Tuesday, September 16th at 3:45 PM. Come ready to show your Pirate spirit!
No School – Please remember that Friday, September 19th is a student holiday.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us make Rockport-Fulton Middle School a place where every student feels empowered, elevated, and ready to excel.

Let’s keep rowing the boat together!

I’m thrilled to share that the Rockport-Fulton Varsity Cheerleaders will be hosting our annual Mini Cheer Clinic, and we can’t wait to involve our younger students in this fun and spirited event! Open to current 6th Graders
RFHS Mini Cheer Camp

Thank you for partnering with us to make this year a success. Let’s keep the energy high, the goals strong, and remember—together we Row to Success! 🚣‍♂️

Row The Boat
Jerry Howell
Principal, RFMS

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Car Rider Safety Reminder

For the safety of all students, we ask that all car riders be dropped off and picked up in our back car rider lane. We do not have staff stationed near JJ’s for supervision, but we do have staff in the back to ensure a safe and efficient process.

Please remember:

Our school day ends at 4:15 PM.
The car rider gate opens at 3:55 PM.
Most students are picked up and on their way by 4:25 PM.

This process is quick, efficient, and—most importantly—safe. Thank you for partnering with us to make sure every student gets home safely.

Sept 15:

MS Volleyball Games @ Home VS Kingsville -4:30pm

Sept 16:

First Pep Rally-7th Period
MS Football Game @ Home VS Beeville-5:30pm

Sept 17:

7th Grade Career Expo Fieldtrip @ Robstown
MS Cross County-CCISD

Sept 18:

College Shirt & Jeans Day

Sept 19:

Student Holiday

Sept 20:

MS Volleyball Tourney-Aransas Pass
NJROTC Meet-Mary Carrol HS, CC

Link to TEA Overview of School Discipline in Texas

Bullying & Online Safety at RFMS:

This past Tuesday, RFMS had the privilege of welcoming representatives from Homeland Security to speak with each grade level about the effects of bullying and the importance of online safety.

Some highlights from the presentation included:

The impact of bullying – how it affects not only the students being targeted but also those around them.
The role of trusted adults – encouraging students to always report concerns and follow up with an adult they trust.
Understanding the difference – between someone being unkind, a mutual argument, and actual bullying. Recognizing these differences helps us respond appropriately and effectively.

At RFMS, we work hard to stop bullying and are committed to being proactive rather than reactive. We are asking parents to continue the conversation at home—talk with your son or daughter about the importance of kindness, standing up for others, and speaking up to a trusted adult when needed.

If you would be interested in continuing this discussion and helping us build stronger, preventative systems against bullying, please click here to sign up. Together, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for all Pirates.

Cyber Safety Reminders

During the Homeland Security presentations, students also learned key tips about staying safe online and on social media:

Be cautious on social media – Always keep accounts set to private, and never share your location on apps such as Snapchat.
Friends vs. strangers – Many students raised their hands when asked if they had “friends” on social media whom they had never met in real life. This is a major safety concern.
Check devices regularly – Parents are strongly encouraged to check their child’s phone and online activity regularly to ensure responsible use of technology and social media.
Age requirements – It was also noted that many apps require users to be at least 13 years old, which means a number of our middle school students technically do not meet the age requirement.

We ask that you partner with us by having a conversation with your child about safe online habits. A few minutes of discussion at home can go a long way toward protecting students and reinforcing the importance of making responsible choices online.

As the year has started, we’ve noticed many families dropping off food for students. While we absolutely love having parents and guardians join us for lunch, we kindly ask that food not be dropped off just for delivery.

When food is dropped off, it can be difficult for us to get it to the student quickly, and this often cuts into their lunch time. To help us keep everything running smoothly, we encourage you to:

Bring a lunch and stay to enjoy it with your student.
Or, have your student bring their lunch with them in the morning.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping us ensure that every Pirate has the time they need to enjoy their meal.

This year has been a busy one for the 89th Texas Legislation we wanted to make sure the parents and students were aware of some of the changes. Please click the links below to get more information on some of the new legislations as well as the updates at our school.

Parent Remind codes by Grade level:

8th grade: Send a text to 81010 message @rfms30

7th grade: Send a text to 81010 message @rfms31

6th grade: Send a text to 81010 message @rfms32

Friday Fun in the Library!

We’ve got exciting news to kick off your Fridays!

Makerspace Now Open Every Friday
Get creative and explore Makerspace! When your classwork is complete, get a Smartpass to explore Makerspace in the library. Open on Fridays, all day.

Lunch in the Library
Looking for a quiet, cozy spot to relax during lunch? The library is now open for lunch every Friday! Bring your lunch, grab a book, or catch up with friends in a calm and welcoming space.

Coming Soon: Beanstack & Book Club Updates
Stay tuned for more information about our reading challenges on Beanstack and exciting new plans for Book Club. Big things are coming, and you won’t want to miss out!