The Rowers Report

SB12 requires all parents to consent for counseling and specific guidance topics also required by legislation. Please login to your student’s family access and complete the consent by October 6th.

September Wrap-Up

As we wrap up September, I want to begin by thanking all of our RFMS families for your continued support, trust, and partnership as we work to provide the highest-quality educational experience for our students.

This past week felt a bit like a roller-coaster ride—from partnering with our local police department to address important safety matters on Wednesday, to celebrating an inspiring State of the District on Thursday. Our middle school students did an amazing job representing RFMS and showcasing the exciting learning and activities happening on our campus.

As we move into October, we are also approaching the end of our first nine weeks of school. Please take time to check in with your student about their grades. Each Monday during Flex, students review their progress, set goals, and make plans for improvement. We’re encouraging our students to take greater ownership of their learning, and it’s been fantastic to hear so many of them share their grades—and explain what they’re doing to improve—when I stop to ask them in the hallways.

Finally, for those interested in joining the conversation about The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, be sure to check out the section below. We’ll be discussing how the developing brain is affected by a phone-based childhood and what that means for us as parents, educators, and a community. Join by following along in this newsletter or reach out to jhowell@rfisd.us to discuss sections of the book in real time.

Looking Ahead – Bully Prevention Month

As we move into October, we are preparing to kick off Bully Prevention Month. Addressing bullying at the middle school level requires teamwork between the school, families, and community. If you would like to get involved, please complete the participation form [Here].

HOCO Spirit Week

Monday 9/29-Pajama Day (School-appropriate pajamas only, no pillows or blankets, no slippers)

Tuesday 9/30-Camo Day (Wear your best camo gear, must be school appropriate)

Wednesday 10/1-Wacky Wednesday (Wear your mixed match outfits, socks, and crazy gear)

Thursday 10/2-Western Day (Dress in your best Hats, boots, jeans, flannels or other western wear)

Friday 10/3-School Colors (6th Grade White Out, 7th Grade Green Out, 8th Grade Gold Out)

Introducing the SAIL Team

We are excited to announce the launch of our SAIL Team – Students Advising and Influencing Leadership. This group will provide student perspective on campus needs while giving students a voice in shaping our school culture. The SAIL Team members will be announced early next week.

Thank You, Pirate Families!

We appreciate your continued partnership in helping our students grow, learn, and succeed. Together, we can make this a strong year for every Pirate.

Let’s keep rowing the boat together!

• A Reminder about those who may have students who participated in the mini cheer camp. They should have their shirt to get into the game and be on the sideline, however parents will still need a ticket and will not be allowed on the sideline.

Let's Go Pirates and tonight's theme is Black Out

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

Welcome aboard Mrs. Rose

THANK YOU to all the Parents that supplied goodies for the Middle School staff this week. We appreciate the PTO parents for putting this together!🧡

The 7th and 8th grade A and B volleyball teams all had a tournament this weekend. Congratulations to the 8th Grade A team for earning 1st place in their tournament, the 7th Grade B team for earning 1st place in their tournament, and the 8th Grade B team for earning 3rd place in theirs.

Great job and keep working hard, Lady Pirates!

Chief Salas is proud to share that the NJROTC cadets performed superbly over the weekend at Mary Carroll HS! They represented our school, community, and families very well. You should be proud of their accomplishments thus far. Here are the results for today’s events:

3rd place personnel inspection
3rd place armed regulation drill
2nd place unarmed regulation drill
2nd place overall champions (no trophy)

I am excited for what the future has in store for them. They inspire me on the daily and make my job exciting!
Thank you for allowing me to train, mentor, and lead these students and for your unwavering support!

Chief Christian Salas, CSC(SS), USN (Retired)

Senior Naval Science Instructor (SNSI)

Rockport-Fulton High School

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 27:

• MS Volleyball Tournament

• MS Cross Country Meet @ Shiner, TX

Oct 1:

• National Principals Month

• National Bully Prevention Month

Oct 3:

• Snack Schooner 5-7th periods

Oct 4:

• MS Volleyball Tournament

• ROTC Drill Meet @ Smithson Valley

SIGN UP WITH THE LINKS BELOW TO GET YOUR VISITOR PASS PRE-PRINTED BEFORE ARRIVAL TO THE PEP RALLY.

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.

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.

• Cell Phones
• Student Dress Code
• RankOne (For Athletics)

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!

Book Discussion: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

The opening chapters of The Anxious Generation invite us to reflect on how we balance over-protection and under-protection in raising children, and on what Haidt calls “the Great Rewiring of the child’s brain.”

Haidt asks us to imagine a scenario: Would you allow your 13-year-old child to volunteer for a mission to Mars—without your permission and with very little preparation or consideration?
Most of us would quickly say “of course not!”—and yet, in a way, we’ve allowed something similar to happen as we’ve let children scroll for hours through the vast and unfiltered world of the internet and social media.

While many platforms (like Instagram or Snapchat) set a minimum age of 13, there is often no real proof of age or consistent regulation of the content that children see. This raises an important question for all of us as parents and educators:

Are we protecting our children as much in the virtual world as we do in the real one?

Research shows that since the mid-1990s parents have become more protective in the physical world—limiting unsupervised play or independent exploration. At the same time, children have gained unprecedented freedom in the digital world, often without the same thoughtful boundaries.

As you reflect on this idea, consider these two discussion questions we are posing to our RFMS community:

1. Risk-Taking & Independence:
   Do students today have enough opportunities to take risks, solve problems, and develop independence within school?
   👉 Share your thoughts here

2. Cultural & Structural Change:
   As we think about the shift from dial-up home computers to powerful smartphones in every pocket—what Haidt calls “the Great Rewiring”—what cultural or structural changes should we lead (not just react to) in order to help students rebuild strong in-person social skills and resilience in a digital world? 👉Respond Here to Share your Thoughts👈