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Dear Rock View Families,

As we move through the final months of the school year, I want to thank our students, staff, and families for their continued partnership and commitment to student success. This time of year is always busy, and I am proud of the hard work and perseverance our students are demonstrating each day both in the classroom and during state assessments.

Our students have been actively engaged in state testing, and they continue to give their best effort. While testing is an important part of the school year, we also remain focused on maintaining strong instructional momentum through the final weeks of school. Daily attendance, active participation, and continued effort remain essential, and we encourage all students to continue doing their BEST each day.

Some families recently received a district communication through ParentVUE regarding their child’s progress in reading and/or mathematics based on winter assessment data. The letter can be found in the Documents folder in ParentVUE. Please know that students continue to be supported through targeted instruction, interventions, and ongoing progress monitoring throughout the school day. Families with questions regarding their child’s progress or instructional supports are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher.

In addition, MCPS is offering a “Jump-Start” option for some students affected by upcoming boundary changes. This option allows eligible current 5th grade students to attend their future middle school one year early during the 2026–2027 school year. Eligible families will receive information directly through ParentVUE. Families interested in participating must submit a request through the COSA process by June 3, 2026. Please note that transportation will not be provided for students participating in the Jump-Start option. Additional information will be shared directly with eligible families by MCPS.

I also recently participated in a principals’ meeting focused on updates related to the rising Grade 4 and Grade 5 mathematics curriculum and math class structures. Please review the information provided below for additional details, and expect more specific updates in the coming weeks. It is important to me that families remain informed throughout this process, and Rock View will continue planning thoughtfully to ensure we meet the mathematical needs of all learners.

Thank you again for your continued support of Rock View Elementary School and our students.

I want to share an update regarding student attendance. We are continuing to work on reducing chronic absenteeism across all grade levels, as lower percentages reflect stronger attendance.

Chronically Absent % As of May 14th

Kindergarten- 19.51% (-4.88%)

1st Grade- 14% (-1%)

2nd Grade- 17.31% (-2.88%)

3rd Grade- 14.56% (-1.94%)

4th Grade- 12.5% (no change)

5th Grade- 17.53% (-1.03%)

As of today, 16.28% of our students are identified as Chronically Absent, which reflects a decrease of -4.19% compared to last year and -1.51% from last week!

SATISFACTORY: 9 or fewer absences during the school year.

Best chance to develop essential grade-level skills for success now and in the future.

CAUTION / WARNING: 10–17 days absent during the school year.

In danger of falling behind and not developing essential grade-level skills.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM: 18 or more days absent during the school year.

Missing critical instruction time and at the greatest risk of falling behind and/or dropping out of school.

Every day of school matters.

~AP Helse

Please join Maria Romero, Family Engagement Specialist to learn differents ways to support your child at home. The workshop is on Wednesday, May 20th at 6PM.

Virtual: https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/5517430774?pwd=RjZJSzJJcG4xM0E1cy9ER25rNFc0Zz09&omn=85656032401

Meeting ID: 551 743 0774

Passcode: support

Kindergarten Registration Now Open

For the 2026-2027 school year, kindergarten registration is now open and being held online through the ParentVUE portal. Children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2026 are eligible. If your family is new to MCPS, you will need to create a ParentVue account here. After creating an account, you will be prompted to register when you first log in.

Registration sessions will be held in person beginning Monday, March 16. Schools will share further information about kindergarten registration with families. Early entrance to kindergarten and first grade opens on Monday, March 9.

All You Need to Know for Lunch
The Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application is available for the 2025–2026 school year. A new FARMS application must be completed every school year. Meals are free for students who qualify for the program. Only one application is needed for all students in a household. Learn more.

Visit the Department of Food and Nutrition and Services webpage for information on breakfast and lunch menus and how to add money to your child’s account through MySchoolBucks.

https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/RockViewES

Volunteers Make a Difference
MCPS welcomes volunteers! Our schools are stronger because parents, caregivers, and community members step in to help. Whether it’s chaperoning a trip, coaching, or lending a hand in the classroom, volunteers make a real difference for kids. At the same time, nothing matters more than keeping every child safe. That’s why we require all volunteers to complete the required training—and some volunteers must also complete a fingerprinted background check, including:

• Volunteer coaches

• Grade 6 Outdoor Education

• Overnight or extended day field trip chaperones (returning after 7:00 p.m. or out-of-area/state)

• Volunteers working 1:1 with students unsupervised

For more information about being a volunteer with MCPS, visit these websites

• Volunteer Information

• Application Form

• Child Abuse and Neglect Training

• MCPS Background Screening Office (for criminal background checks)

myMCPS Classroom (Canvas) Cybersecurity Update –System Operating Safely
myMCPS Classroom (Canvas) is now fully operational, including the restoration of the grade syncing to the MCPS student information systems. This is important because it means there will be no impact on end-of-year grading or report cards.
To support teachers following last week’s nationwide cybersecurity incident impacting Canvas, MCPS has extended the teacher grade submission deadline to Monday, May 18, 2026. Family access to Canvas should now be fully restored.

MCPS technology teams continue to monitor systems closely, and the vendor, Instructure, has confirmed that data has been secured and that systems are safe. We want to sincerely thank our students, staff, families, and especially our MCPS technology staff for their patience, flexibility, and hard work as we navigated this cybersecurity incident together. Should families need support with MCPS technology, visit the Community Tech Support portal page at https://montgomery.service-now.com/csm, and if you have a question, submit an email to communitytechsupport@mcpsmd.org. For more Instructure updates, visit their site: Security Incident Update & FAQs | Instructure.

Updated ParentVue App Launches May 15

The ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps offer a new look and customized options. An upgraded version of the apps will be available on Friday, May 15. Parents will be prompted to update their ParentVUE mobile app. A step-by-step guide will explain all the new features, including notification preferences, enhanced account management and quick access for what you use most. Watch the video.
Learn more. Spanish flyer - New Parentvue App - SPANISH.pdf

3rd Quarter Performance Letter–Check Your Inbox
As we near the end of the school year, we want to make sure your student stays on track. Families with students in kindergarten through grade 8, who are below grade level for math and/or reading received a letter from MCPS with that information and steps to take to get back on track. Note: A letter was sent only if your student is below grade level. Please check your email from MCPS to determine if a letter was sent to your family. If your family received a letter, you can call your child’s school to discuss their progress and any additional plans or support needed.

Phone: 240-740-0920

Address: 3901 Denfeld Ave, Kensington, MD 20850

Principal- Kilsys Batista, kilsys_c_batista@mcpsmd.org

Assistant Principal- Tyvae Helse, tyvae_helse@mcpsmd.org

Admin Secretary- Nancy Morin, nancy_L_morin@mcpsmd.org

Website: montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rockviewes/