Rockburn Report

Dear Rockburn Families,

Hope you are enjoying the cooler weather, although we would like the rain to go away!!

Please see below for new events happening at Rockburn and in the community!

Also, check out our new Rockburn Spiritwear! There are new designs and fun styles!

Let's ROCK this week!

LGBTQ+ Month is a time to celebrate and learn about the LGBTQ+ community. It helps us understand their lives, honor their history, and show kindness and respect to everyone.

Please see the attached for information on HCPSS's Student Reading Improvement Plan.

Dear Parents/Families:

Attendance is crucial for student success from kindergarten to high school. Missing school impacts academic and social achievements.

• Significance: Missing 10% or more can harm academic success. In 6th grade, absenteeism signals a higher risk of dropout. By 9th grade, regular attendance is a strong predictor of graduation.

• Maryland Focus: The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) set a 10% absenteeism threshold for intervention, starting 2023-2024.

• Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) aims for 94-96% attendance for all students.

HCPSS Attendance Interventions:

1. 5% Absence: Care and Concern Call or letter sent to parents/guardians to improve attendance.

2. 10% Absence: Attendance conference may be arranged. Additional supports deployed.

3. 15% Absence: Attendance support plan may be required.

4. 20% Absence: Attendance Commitment Agreement may be required. Potential referral to the Central Attendance Team or State’s Attorney’s Letter may be sent.

With parents, staff, and students working together, we can improve attendance and student success.

Many HCPSS families may be eligible to receive benefits through the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program

Links to an external site.

.

Qualifying families can take advantage of a wide range of additional resources and discounts, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart dual enrollment tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more.

Families must submit a new application every school year. During the first 30 school days, students with FARMs eligibility from the prior school year will continue to receive benefits. Any student whose family has not filled out an application by the 30th school day will have their status changed to full pay until a new application is received.

Parents/guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. It is very important that applications are filled out accurately and completely.

• Apply online

• Links to an external site.

• Apply by mail: Paper applications will be available at all school front offices. Applications can be returned to the school or mailed to HCPSS Food & Nutrition Services, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Answers to frequently asked questions

Links to an external site.

Information on HCPSS meals and additional meals/nutrition assistance programs can be found on the HCPSS Help site. If you have questions regarding the program, please visit www.hcpss.org/FARMs

Links to an external site.

or contact Food and Nutrition Services at 410-313-6743 or foodsvc@hcpss.org.

Parent lunch visits are no longer permitted at any HCPSS school. Limiting access during the school day ensures safe and secure school communities by removing unnecessary access to students and school buildings, reducing disruptions, supporting student routines, and minimizing non-essential traffic in student areas. Parents are encouraged to communicate with school staff to stay engaged in their child's learning and seek opportunities to volunteer in an official capacity at the school.

We are once again looking for volunteers to help at recess with our prize cart. Once a month, students in grades 1-5 have the opportunity to trade in tickets for prizes. If you are able to help, please add your name to this sheet. Thank you!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eYB2wJ-O-vribButVYYfo103jTsSvP0hSOBbx1iRAQU/edit?usp=sharing

Please make sure you complete your Volunteer Training paperwork:

https://www.hcpss.org/parents/volunteer-information/

and email it to Nicky Wolf - Nicole_Wolf@hcpss.org before coming to volunteer. Thanks!

Get your Rockburn gear here! Happy Shopping!

***CHECK OUT THE NEW DESIGNS!!!!***

***THEY LOOK AWESOME!!!***

RES Spirit wear

September

• 30th - 3 Hour Early Dismissal

October

• 15th - Fall Pictures
• 16th - No School
• 27th - End of 1st Quarter
• 28th - No School
• 30th - Rocky Run (schedule posted later)

September 22nd - https://app.smore.com/n/n8tb3-rockburn-report

September 14th - https://app.smore.com/n/256ubg-rockburn-report

Help Us Walk & Roll to School! We’re looking for volunteers to help at our neighborhood meet-up locations and along the routes for Walk or Roll to School Day on Wednesday October 7th!

Sign up to help at:

https://tinyurl.com/WalkorRolltoSchoolDay2026

Then, on October 7th join us at one of these five locations to walk to school with your classmates: Marbuck Drive, Bellanca Drive, Garden View Drive, Rockburn Branch Park or Rockburn Drive.

The Rockburn PTA is excited to partner with RES parent and photographer, Rina Tigani, for Fall Mini Sessions. These 15 minute outdoor sessions on Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th, offer beautiful seasonal photographs including eight edited, high resolution images for $150. 20% of the proceeds will be donated back to the RES PTA to support programs and initiatives for our students and staff. Book today at https://calendly.com/rinatigani-photography/new-meeting?month=2026-10.

The PTA is partnering with Chrysalis Craft Club to offer art enrichment classes to our students. These classes will be held on Wednesdays after school at Rockburn from 3:15-4:30 and will begin on October 14th. Sign up today at https://chrysaliscraftclub.com/registration/registration-after-school-enrichment/ as limited spots are available.

Join us at the RES Spooktacular Fall Festival on Friday, October 30th from 6:30-8:30 pm. The popular Eric Energy Mad Scientist Show will be back for another night of wild experiments, cool science, and tons of energy. We will also have the pumpkin decorating contest voting, music, snacks, and more. Wear your costumes and join for a night of fun! This event is free for PTA Bundle Members otherwise, it is $20 per family.

To enter the pumpkin decorating contest, email a photo of your decorated pumpkin to resevents@rockburnpta.org by Monday, October 26th. Include your child's name, teacher and grade.

The 2026-2027 PTA Membership Drive is underway. 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.

Please mark your calendars with the following dates for our PTA events and meetings. More information about each event will be shared closer to the event. For the PTA meetings, in person meetings will be held in the RES media center. Virtual meetings can be accessed using the link https://tinyurl.com/RESPTAMeetings and by entering the password 572034.