Rockburn Report

Hello Rockburn Families!

Let the Coin challenge begin!!!

Rockburn, get ready to power up and battle it out! Our school is hosting a Coin Challenge to continue raising money for a new electronic sign in front of Rockburn and for other PTA initiatives. We need you to help your child separate their pennies and bills from their silver coins (nickels, dimes, and quarters). Then, starting Monday, October 19th, have your student place their pennies and bills into the bucket marked with their grade level to score points and power up! Students can launch a coin attack by dropping silver coins (nickels, dimes, and quarters) into other grades’ buckets to subtract their points! Parents/guardians can make a surprise power-up attack by donating online.

The grade level with the most points at the end of the week will conquer the challenge, earn serious bragging rights, be crowned the Ultimate Coin Champions, and win extra recess! And, if we raise at least $3000 as a school, the entire school will earn a popsicle party!

Let's ROCK this week!

Parents/Guardians & Families,

Bullying prevention starts at home, too. Families can make a difference by keeping the lines of communication open and regularly talking with children about friendships, school experiences, group chats, social media, and how they and their peers treat one another.

Encourage your child to identify trusted adults they can turn to when something doesn't feel right. Talk about what they can safely do if they witness someone being mistreated—such as getting an adult, refusing to join in or laugh, checking on the student afterward, or reporting what they saw.

Being an upstander applies online, too. Remind children that liking, sharing, forwarding, commenting on, or reposting hurtful content can increase its impact. Instead, encourage them to avoid participating, save evidence when appropriate, support the person being targeted, and tell a trusted adult.

Children also learn from what they see. Modeling kindness, empathy, inclusion, and respect for others helps reinforce the behaviors we want to see in our schools and communities.

Talk. Notice. Include. Speak Up. Together, we can help create communities where every student feels safe, supported, and valued.

More bullying prevention information and resources can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website.

The Rocky Run is taking place on Friday, October 30th. The schedule will be as follows...

5th- 9-9:45

4th- 10-10:45

3rd- 11-11:45

2nd- 12:15-1

K- 1:15-2

1st- 2:15-3

If you would like to watch, please head straight out to the black top. Do not come into the front and ring the bell. Thank you!

If you would like to request holiday assistance for your immediate family, please complete the form below by 10/30.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7SeeFKsfhnaju5cUcJQ1nWgUmuhmNF4EvbzjTh7eZVLrrxQ/viewform?usp=header

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

October

• 27th - End of 1st Quarter
• 28th - No School
• 30th - Rocky Run

November

• 3rd - No School
• 23rd - 3 Hour Early Dismissal - Parent Teacher Conferences
• 24th - 3 Hour Early Dismissal - Parent Teacher Conferences
• 25th - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
• 26th - No School
• 27th - No School

October 12th - https://app.smore.com/n/d2utr4-rockburn-report

October 5th - https://app.smore.com/n/wuvpxa-rockburn-report

Rockburn, get ready to power up and battle it out! Our school is hosting a Coin Challenge to continue raising money for a new electronic sign in front of Rockburn and for other PTA initiatives. We need you to help your child separate their pennies and bills from their silver coins (nickels, dimes, and quarters). Then, starting Monday, October 19th, have your student place their pennies and bills into the bucket marked with their grade level to score points and power up! Students can launch a coin attack by dropping silver coins (nickels, dimes, and quarters) into other grades’ buckets to subtract their points! Parents/guardians can make a surprise power-up attack by donating online.

The grade level with the most points at the end of the week will conquer the challenge, earn serious bragging rights, be crowned the Ultimate Coin Champions, and win extra recess! And, if we raise at least $3000 as a school, the entire school will earn a popsicle party!

Parents/guardians can make a surprise power-up attack by donating online at https://tinyurl.com/RESCoinWars26

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.