The Weekly Update #4

Welcome to a new school year at Rock Ridge High School!

I am excited to welcome our students, families, and staff back and look forward to another outstanding year for our Phoenix community.

Our success depends on a strong partnership between students, families, staff, and our community. Together, we will continue to create a school where students feel safe, supported, connected, and challenged to reach their full potential. Student mental health, well-being, and safety remain at the center of our work.

At The Rock, support goes hand-in-hand with high expectations and accountability. This year, we will maintain a strong focus on daily attendance, academic achievement, our Honor Code, the renewed cell phone policy, and the updated dress code. We expect our students to attend school consistently, engage fully in their learning, make responsible choices, demonstrate integrity, and contribute positively to our school community.

Our students are capable of extraordinary things, and we will continue to support them, challenge them, and hold them to high standards. Thank you to our families for your partnership and trust as we work together to make this an exceptional year at Rock Ridge.

Welcome back, Phoenix!

John Duellman

The School Counseling Department was excited to meet many of our new and returning students on Flight Day. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello!

Please note that between March and May, the course change request deadline, over 1 thousand course change requests were made. The current schedule was built to accommodate these requests. On Flight Day many students sought to make continued changes. We are reviewing these requests but many we will not be able to make based on availability.

Students who are missing a class on their schedule or have been assigned to two classes during the same period should visit the School Counseling Office in the Career Center during the affected block On Monday and Tuesday.

As we begin the school year, we would also like to remind families and students that schedule changes cannot be made for the purpose of rearranging the order of classes. We appreciate your understanding, as space limitations prevent us from making these adjustments.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. We are looking forward to a great school year and to seeing everyone on the first day of school!

School begins promptly at 9:30 a.m., and all students are expected to be in class and ready to learn at that time.

We recognize that morning traffic can be challenging. Rock Ridge is located at the end of a dead-end street, with buses, student drivers, parent drop-offs, and walkers all arriving within a relatively short period of time. Please plan accordingly and allow extra time.

School doors open at 8:30 a.m., breakfast is available beginning at 8:55 a.m., and classes begin at 9:30 a.m.

The best guarantee for arriving on time is riding the school bus!

Beginning the second week of school, students participating in athletics, activities, performances, and other extracurricular programs will be expected to arrive at school on time in order to practice, compete, or perform that day.

Being on time is about more than attendance. Developing strong on-time behaviors is an important part of preparing students for college, careers, and life beyond high school.

RRHS Website

Our website provides complete information for RRHS - including ParentVue and StudentVue direct links.

First Day Information

Bells

Please note the new start times for school and the renewed focus on on-time behaviors and accountability.

A/B Day

Please note the complete A/B day schedule.

Resources for Parents

These links each have summary links for valuable resources!

For the first day of school on August 17th (A Day), we suggest that students only bring basic items to school (paper, folder and pen/pencils). Each content is unique and supply lists will be provided by teachers in these content areas.

Student Medication at School or During School Related Activities

General - All medicines should be administered to students by their parents at home if at all possible. Medicine administered at school will strictly follow the procedures described below. Any student who fails to follow these procedures or whose parents fail to follow them will be excluded from school until compliance is assured. The principal shall determine whether or not there is compliance with the provisions of this policy.

Please visit the School Health Office Webpage for more information and links to required forms for medication administration. Questions can be addressed via email, RRH-Nurse@lcps.org, or by calling 703-996-2106 during clinic hours (M-F 8:45am-4:15pm).

Students should:

• Wear clothing that is not see-through.
• Wear tops that cover the front, sides, back, and waist. Necklines should provide appropriate chest coverage.
• Wear pants, shorts, skirts, leggings, or other bottoms that fully cover the lower torso and buttocks.
• Wear dresses, jumpsuits, and other one-piece outfits that meet the same coverage expectations.
• Wear shoes at school.
• Hats and head coverings are allowed as long as the face remains visible.
• Keep hoods down while wearing hoodies.
• Religious, cultural, and ethnic head coverings and hairstyles are permitted.

Students should not:

• Wear blankets or robes to school.
• Intentionally wear clothing that exposes undergarments.
• Wear clothing that does not meet the coverage requirements above.

Pajamas: Pajama tops and bottoms are permitted if they meet the dress code coverage requirements.

Physical Education: PE clothing must meet the same coverage expectations. Students must also wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes that are securely fastened. Some other classes may have additional clothing requirements for safety.

LCPS requires students to keep cell phones and other personal electronic devices off and away during the school day. This expectation applies throughout the building, including classrooms, the cafeteria, class changes, Brain Break, and other non-instructional times.

We understand that this will be a significant adjustment for some students. During the opening days of school, we will meet with students, review the expectations, and provide reminders and opportunities to adjust. Beginning August 24, students will be held fully accountable for following the LCPS cell phone policy.

Our goal is to reduce distractions, increase student engagement, and create an environment where students are more present and connected throughout the school day.

As we begin the school year, we want to remind students and families of an important LCPS safety expectation regarding e-bikes, electric scooters, and other motorized personal transportation devices.

Students may use these devices to commute to and from school, but they may not be ridden anywhere on school property.

Students arriving by e-bike, scooter, or another motorized device must get off at the school property boundary and walk the device to the designated parking area. At dismissal, students must walk the device completely off school property before riding it.

Helmets should be worn at all times when riding.

This expectation is in place to protect the safety of our students, staff, and visitors, particularly during our busy arrival and dismissal times. We appreciate our students and families partnering with us to keep the RRHS campus safe.

Tuesday August 18th

Flag Football @ Loudoun County vs. Broad Run, 6:45 p.m. Bus departs at 5:15 p.m.

Wednesday August 19th

9th Football @ Meridian, 6:30 p.m. Early Release at 3:30 p.m. Bus departs at 4 p.m.

Thursday August 20th

Golf @ Loudoun Country Club vs. Woodgrove/Loudoun Valley, 4 p.m. Early Release at 2 p.m.

Varsity Football @ Justice, 6 p.m. Early Release at 2:30 p.m. Bus departs at 2:45 p.m.

Booster Board Position Open: We are looking to fill either the secretary or treasurer position for the upcoming school year. Please email Tricia Furtek at rrathleticboosters@gmail.com if you are interested.

Save the Date

📅 Booster Club Meeting
Tuesday, August 25
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Rock Ridge High School

All parents, guardians, and coaches are welcome to attend.

Become a Member – TEAM Competition!

One of the easiest ways to support the Athletic Boosters is by becoming a member.

Join or renew your membership through the link. If you have been a member in previous years, please remember that annual renewal is required to keep your membership active.

The sports team with the highest percentage of players/coaches sign up will receive a $500 spending allotment from the Booster Club.

Concession Sign Up

Concessions is one of our biggest fundraisers. Sign up to help at the indoor or outdoor concession stand. Please note that varsity football games will require at least one adult.

Business Sponsorship Opportunities

Do you own a business—or know someone who does—that may be interested in supporting Rock Ridge Athletics?

We offer sponsorship opportunities that help fund athletic programs while giving businesses valuable visibility within our school community.

For more information, please contact: 📧 vicepresident.rrhsabc@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued support of Rock Ridge Athletics. Together, we can help our Phoenix student-athletes fly high! 🦅🔥

First Tailgate and Home Football Game- August 28
Be sure to come out to the first home tailgate on August 28! The theme for the student section is a “Trop Out,” so rock your best floral/Hawaiian shirts! There will be a tailgate before the game from 6-6:45 p.m. near the ticket booth. There will be lawn games, face painting, sign making, cotton candy and more! We can’t wait to see you there and look forward to packing the Phoenix Pit!

Save the Date for Homecoming- October 9th & 10th!

The Homecoming tailgate will be on Oct. 9 from 4:45-6:45. It will feature two food trucks, an inflatable obstacle course, lawn games, and MORE. The Homecoming dance will be outside in the stadium on Oct. 10 from 8 p.m.-11p.m. Tickets will go on sale Sept. 22.

UNDERCLASSMEN PICTURE DAY- SEPT. 2 & 3

• Date: Wednesday, September 2nd & Thursday, September 3rd

• Who: 9th & 10th grade will go with PE Classes, 11th grade will go with their English class

• If you do not have a PE class, you can go during brain break, during advisory, during lunch, during study hall, or at 9:15. If you need a pass, see Ms. Prince in L405

• Pre-order Online: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001416990

• Images Available: Approximately two-three weeks after picture day

• Questions about Ordering? Email underclass@vosphoto.com

BUY YOUR YEARBOOK! LOWEST PRICE OF THE YEAR!

Yearbooks are on sale NOW for the lowest price of the year. They did sell out last year, so buy yours will you can! Prices will increase Sept. 28, and again Nov. 16 and Feb. 28. Reserve your award-winning yearbook now here: https://yearbookforever.com/

From your Family Liaison - New School Year Resources, Support and Community at RRHS

As your family liaison, I am ready to help you navigate school and community resources. You can reach me by email on sophia.saib@lcps.org or stop by the main office to meet with me. Happy to answer your questions and inquiries about school and community resources including in school fee waivers, free and reduced lunch applications, school supplies, the school snack pantry, food and clothing resources, medical resources in our community, sports insurance, PE t-shirts, and senior fees etc. Rock Ridge Cares – welcome to our community.

Free and Reduced Lunch Application

https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new

McKinney Vento Application

https://www.lcps.org/o/doss/page/mckinney-vento

Food Resources - Loudoun Hunger

https://loudounhunger.org/

Dulles Clothing Closet – next event: 15th August 2026

https://dullescloset.org/

Please see the attached Title IX Preview and Opt Out for Students from the Office of Communications in LCPS

please note - this SMORE contains images that utilize AI