Rockburn Report

Hello Rockburn Families,

Welcome to May! The countdown is on to the end of the year. This is a good time to set end of year goals with your child. Think about how to end the year strong!

We have already been spoiled by our amazing PTA and it's only Wednesday! Thank you for making staff appreciation week special!

There will be many end of year activities coming up so make sure to keep an eye on the calendar and read our Rockburn Report.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.

The staff at Rockburn Elementary School is in the early stages of planning for the 2026-27 school year. As part of this process, we would like to give you the opportunity to share some information that you would like for us to consider as we begin to make class groupings for the next school year. This consideration form is for you, as parents, to relate specific information about your child that you feel would be beneficial as our teachers meet to determine next year's placement.

For example:
• “My child seems to work much better in an area that is more self-contained.”
• “My child is very shy and often knows the answer, but is afraid to raise his hand.”
• “The behavior plan used this year worked very well. Please continue to provide this structure.”

When placing students, the staff and administration utilize a wide range of criteria, which are supportive of the Howard County philosophy of grouping. Some of these criteria include, but are not limited to:

• Written output
• Need for extra reading help
• Recommendations from the guidance counselor
• Test results
• Balance of female and male students
• Reading strengths and needs
• Special education requirements; IEP goals
• Structured versus non-structured needs
• Personality of the child
• Information from previous teachers
• Others

There are certain concerns that we cannot consider as part of this Consideration Form: therefore we ask that you not use this form to propose the following:
• Specific teacher requests,
• Grouping based on siblings’ experience,
• Grouping based on friends,
• Grouping based on hearsay.

Your response is optional. All consideration forms are due by Friday, May 8th at 4:00 p.m. Please do not ask us to accept letters after this date, since the process will begin immediately after that date.

RES Consideration Form

If you are interested in sharing your career with our 3rd (May 20) or 4th graders (June 3), we would love to have you! Please fill out the form for the grade you prefer.

THIRD GRADE FORM

FOURTH GRADE FORM

Our next PTA meeting is on 5/6. Before the meeting (6:15-7:00), Mia Pearson (Howard County Office of Local Children's Board) will be presenting to parents about the Behavioral Health Roadmap and community resources. If you are interested in attending, please use this form to RSVP.

The 2026-2027 Prekindergarten Application is Live! Please click the link below to access the application.

*NEW* 2026-2027 Online Pre-K Application Links to an external site.(including current LTP peers who are interested in also applying to Pre-K)

Paper applications are available upon request and the parent/guardian should email hcpss_pk@hcpss.org to request an application.

For more information about HCPSS PreK programs, please visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/hcpss-pre-k/

Do you have a student starting kindergarten fall of 2026? We need you to register your child today! Please follow the directions through the hcpss website to register. The number of Kindergarten Staff is dependent on the number of students. So, the sooner you or your neighbors register your student, the better!

If you have questions or get stuck in the process, please reach out to the front office (410-313-5030)! We look forward to meeting your new kindergartener!

We love our Rockburn families and all of the traditions you celebrate. We value all the many cultures in our building and want to hear from you, our treasured families. We want to learn more about you and highlight our families in our Rockburn Report.

Thanks to those that have already shared your amazing traditions. If you haven't already, please fill out the google form,

Please fill out this google form so we can learn more! RES Family Traditions

The Rockburn Early Childhood Classes are making preparations for the upcoming 2026-20207. Beginning in mid February applications for general education students to participate as peers through the Learning Together Program (LTP) will become available. These classes include general education and special education students. The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills. Parents of children who will be 3 by September 1st, may apply.

For more information and to apply for LTP visit: HCPSS Learning Together Program

In alignment with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future, new applications for students turning 4 by September 1 are not available. The Howard County Public School System continues to offer Prekindergarten for income eligible children who will be 4 years old by September 1. For additional information contact the school or visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/

Prize cart is back! Kids have the opportunity to trade in their tickets at the prize cart one week each month. We love to have two volunteers for each grade to help facilitate. If you are able/willing to volunteer, please use this sheet to sign up.

RES Prize Cart

*don't forget to do your volunteer training if you're coming in. See our website for more details.

Get your Rockburn gear here! Happy Shopping!

RES Spirit wear

Parents and guardians of children receiving special education and related services were mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage paid envelope by Friday, June 5, 2026. The survey can also be completed onlineLinks to an external site.. Your feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in HCPSS. Your voice can make a real difference for your child and many other children across the state of Maryland.

May

• 14 - Now a full day for students
• 25 - Schools and offices closed
• 27 - Schools and offices closed

June

• 15 - Spirit Day - ALOHA Day
• 16 - Students dismissed 3 hours early - 12:15pm
• 17 - Students dismissed 3 hours early - 12:15pm
• 18 - Students dismissed 3 hours early - 12:15pm - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

April 20 - https://app.smore.com/n/fkyhe-rockburn-report

March 9 - https://app.smore.com/n/y7t1d-rockburn-report

February 24 - https://app.smore.com/n/5kbt7-rockburn-report

Help the PTA show our staff how WICKED OZ-SOME they are by participating in the pop-up spirit day this Friday, May 8th. On this day, dress in pink and green to celebrate the staff who have changed us for good!

Join us for SportsPark Night on Friday, May 29th from 6-8:30 pm at Columbia SportsPark. Enjoy mini golf, a bounce obstacle course, Eco Adventures, a bubble artist, and more. Cost is $30 per family or free for PTA bundle members.

Our final PTA meeting will be on Wednesday, May 6th at 7 pm in the RES media center. Please join us as we will be voting for officers for next year at that meeting. The PTA meeting is immediately after the counselor session on Mental Health.

PTA Council of Howard County (PTACHC) is conducting a survey on HCPSS-issued devices with regards to safety, wellbeing, and learning. Your input is important! Responses will be kept anonymous and will be shared with HCPSS leadership and used for advocacy efforts. Please use this link (http://t.ly/o2XQH) to complete the survey by May 24.

Our school supply kit sale has officially started. This year we are once again partnering with Sprout School Supplies to offer you the school supplies your child's teacher will require for next year. These kits contain name brand, high quality supplies. The kits will once again be delivered directly to the school and waiting on your child's desk so you don't even have to worry about bringing them to school! The sale closes on June 16th, so order today at https://sproutsupplies.com/order using school code RES019.

Join Rockburn at Camden Yards to cheer on the Orioles on Saturday, May 9th at 4:05 pm. Buy your tickets at https://www.gofevo.com/event/Rockburnelementary26 using promo code ADLEY.

As an added bonus, Nelly is headlining a postgame concert that day at Camden Yards and your tickets for the game give you concert access!