River Bend Middle

Traduccion en Espanol

· Para ver el boletin en Espanol haga click en el cuadrado negro ubicado en la parte derecha donde dice "Translate Newsletter"

· Cuando llegue aqui haga clic en la flecha que apunta hacia abajo y escoja el idioma "Spanish"

Follow River Bend Middle School on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and our school website for more of what's happening at “The Bend!”

• Instagram: rbms.lcps
• Facebook: River Bend Middle School_Official
• X (Twitter): @RBMS_Official
• Website: www.lcps.org/o/rbm

National Junior Honor Society

NJHS applications are due November 20. Please refer to the invitation email sent to eligible 8th graders on November 4 for additional information.

News Around The Bend

CLICK HERE to enjoy highlights from our first quarter! This student-produced newsletter features stories and updates created by students in our Communications class!

School Musical

School of Rock tickets are now on sale! CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets. You don't want to miss this rocking show!

Feedback on the LCPS Grading Policy

LCPS is seeking parent/guardian feedback on the Assessment and Grading Policy 5030. Share what is working and what could be improved through ThoughtExchange November 4–18. Participate in the LCPS Assessment and Grading ThoughtExchange.

Opportunities to Get Involved

1. If you are interested in serving as River Bend’s MSAAC or SEAC Parent Representative or supporting our PTA in areas such as membership, events, or other activities, please contact president@rbmspta.org and copresident@rbmspta.org.
2. If you are interested in volunteering in our library, please contact Madeline.Davis@lcps.org and CLICK HERE. Opportunities include Book Fair (December 7–11), lunch support, makerspace activities, shelf reading, book repair, etc.
3. If you are interested in supporting our PTA with concessions for the school musical (December 10-12), CLICK HERE and/or contact president@rbmspta.org.

All-District Chorus

Upcoming Events (LCPS Calendars)

• Monday, November 16 = Honor Roll Recognition sponsored by Bruster's
• Tuesday, November 17 = RBM Spelling Bee at 3:45 pm (Library)
• Tuesday, November 17 = Q2 Activity Buses Start
• Thursday, November 17 = Orchestra 7 Concert at 6:00 pm (FREE Event)
• Thursday, November 19 = LCPS AP Institute hosted at RBM (Library)
• Thursday, November 19 = PTA Meeting Online at 6:30 pm (Online Link Coming Soon)
• Friday, November 20 = NJHS Applications Due
• Friday, November 20 = Signed Q1 Report Cards Due (Students with 1+ F)
• Tuesday, November 24 = No After-School Activities
• Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27 = No School (Thanksgiving Break)
• Monday, November 30 = Fundraiser Shows at 1:15 pm and 2:30 pm
• Friday, December 4 = Coffee at the Bend at 8:00 am (Library) - Devices & Children's Wellness (Savannah Boeing, Lead Counselor)
• Monday, December 7-Friday, December 11 = Book Fair (Library)
• Tuesday, December 8 = Hour of Code Field Trip to the Academies of Loudoun (Level Up) at 4:00-7:30 pm
• Wednesday, December 9 = Jazz Band at the Dulles Town Center
• Wednesday, December 9 = Guitar 8 Concert with PFH (at Potomac Falls HS) at 7:00 pm (FREE Event)
• Thursday, December 10 = Book Fair Extended Hours at 5:00-8:00 pm (Library)
• Thursday, December 10 = Musical: School of Rock (Show 1 of 4) at 6:00 pm (Ticket Link)
• Friday, December 11 = Musical: School of Rock (Show 2 of 4) at 7:00 pm (Ticket Link)
• Saturday, December 12 = Musical: School of Rock (Show 3 of 4) at 1:00 pm (Ticket Link)
• Saturday, December 12 = Musical: School of Rock (Show 4 of 4) at 7:00 pm (Ticket Link)
• Tuesday, December 15 = Chorus 7 & 8 Concert at 6:00 pm (FREE Event)
• Wednesday, December 16 = PTA Staff Luncheon
• Wednesday, December 16 = Band 7 Concert at 6:00 pm (FREE Event)
• Wednesday, December 16 = Band 8 Concert at 7:00 pm (FREE Event)
• Thursday, December 17 = Jingle Jam Concert at 6:00 pm at Potomac Falls HS (FREE Event)
• Monday, December 21-Friday, January 1 = No School (Winter Break)

How You Can Help Your Child Be Successful in School

Families play an important role in student success. Here are three simple but meaningful ways you can support your child throughout the school year.

1. Make school attendance a priority. Even the brightest student will struggle if they miss class. Being at school consistently gives students access to instruction, classroom discussions, activities, and support from their teachers.
2. Check your child's agenda throughout the week. Encourage your child to use their agenda to physically write down assignments, upcoming assessments, and important due dates. Research suggests that physically writing information can help strengthen memory and retention. Checking the agenda together helps students stay organized and prepares them to take greater ownership of their responsibilities.
3. Regularly check ParentVUE for grades and missing assignments. Take a few minutes each week to review your child's progress. Students who have missing assignments often have lower grades. Identifying missing work early gives your child an opportunity to complete assignments, ask questions, and get back on track before the end of the quarter.

Special Programs & Admissions Timeline for 8th Graders

August 24-October 15

• Academies of Loudoun (AET & AOS)

December 1-January 15

• Health and Medical Science Academy (HAMSci)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC)
• ACCESS Academy
• Academy for Global and Linguistic Studies (AGLS)
• Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AJROTC)

Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition

Applications for the 2026–2027 Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition open November 3! This opportunity invites middle and high school students to identify a community challenge, develop a creative solution, and turn their ideas into action. Students can participate in virtual workshops, receive feedback from judges, apply for mini-grants up to $500, and compete for monetary awards.

Support Our School Community

An easy way to support your child’s school and our community is by joining the PTA. Membership is just $12 for the entire school year, and your membership helps provide support and resources for our students, staff, and school community. CLICK HERE to join!

Add Funds to Your Child's Breakfast/Lunch Account

• CLICK HERE to access LINQ

Free Meals

The Free & Reduced Meal program helps ensure your child receives healthy breakfasts and lunches at school at no or low cost. This program is designed to support student success by providing the nutritious meals they need to learn and thrive. An eligible family can save over $950 per child during the school year! To see if your family qualifies visit www.lcps.org/o/lcps/page/free-reduced. Please note that families must apply every year. Even if your child received free meals last year, you must apply again this year.

River Bend will continue to offer the following intramural sports for the 2026/27 school year. Intramural sports occur after-school from 3:45-4:45 pm during designated club days. Intramural sports are FREE to students.

• Flag Football (Quarter 1) - on Tuesdays (DONE)
• Cross County (Quarter 1) - on Thursdays (DONE)
• Volleyball (Quarter 2) - on Tuesdays & Thursdays
• Basketball (Quarter 3) - on Tuesdays & Thursdays
• Soccer (Quarter 4) - on Tuesdays & Thursdays

To participate, a student must have a valid physical examination on file with the school building intramural coordinator (valid for 14 months from the date of the examination) and must complete the registration process. Please be sure to scroll down the page and click on the correct program link for your school before registering. For the 2026/27 intramural sports schedule and FAQs, please visit the LCPS Athletics and Activities website or contact the RBM Intramural Coordinator at Lee.Koudela@lcps.org.

Changes to Reading and Mathematics SOL Pass/Proficient Cut Scores

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, the Virginia Board of Education is raising the Pass/Proficient cut scores for Reading and Mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments. The changes will be phased in over four years and apply only to Reading and Mathematics SOL assessments.

Why are the proficiency cut scores changing?

Virginia is updating proficiency cut scores for reading and math SOL’s to align with more rigorous academic standards and national benchmarks. A proficiency cut score is the minimum score a student must achieve to reach a performance level on an assessment.

What could this mean for my student's SOL scores?

Previously, a score of 400 on a Virginia SOL assessment meant a student passed the assessment and was considered proficient.

As the increased proficiency cut scores are implemented, a new performance level called Pass/Approaching has been added to bridge the gap between a failing score and the new proficiency score. The score range for the Pass/Approaching performance level will gradually narrow over the next four years as Virginia phases in the new proficiency expectations.

SOL test scores will fall into one of five performance levels: Fail/Below Basic, Fail/Basic, Pass/Approaching, Pass/Proficient or Pass/Advanced. During the transition period, scores in the Pass/Approaching, Pass/Proficient and Pass/Advanced performance levels will count as passing scores on the SOL assessment.

Students taking a high school-level SOL assessment will be held to the Pass/Approaching and/or Pass/Proficient cut score that was in effect when they completed the associated course. Families can review the VDOE score ranges by assessment and school year for additional information.

What about science, writing and social science?

The increased proficiency cut scores apply only to Reading and Mathematics SOL assessments. Science, writing and social science assessments are not currently impacted by these changes.

How is LCPS supporting students?

Our staff will continue supporting teaching and learning aligned with Virginia's Standards of Learning to help students meet Virginia's academic expectations. As additional guidance becomes available from the Virginia Department of Education, LCPS will continue sharing information and resources with families.

Where can I learn more?

Visit the LCPS Office of Assessment Services webpage for additional information, frequently asked questions and resources related to the new Pass/Proficient cut scores.

Families may also visit the Virginia Department of Education website for additional information about the state's implementation of the new Pass/Proficient cut scores.

CPS will continue updating the Office of Assessment Services webpage as additional information becomes available from the Virginia Department of Education.

For questions, please contact the Office of Assessment Services at 540-751-2590.

2026-2027 School Contacts

• Main Phone Number = 571-434-3220
• 6th Grade Support (House C) = Melissa.Dober@lcps.org (Grade-Level Dean), Savannah.Boeing@lcps.org (Counselor), Amy.Raye@lcps.org (Registrar & Administrative Assistant), & Christiana.McCormick@lcps.org (Assistant Principal)
• 7th Grade Support (House B) = Brian.Taylor@lcps.org (Grade-Level Dean), Courtney.Bredow@lcps.org (Counselor - Last Names A-P), Katharine.Smorodin@lcps.org (Counselor - Last Names Q-Z), Jacqueline.Rivas@lcps.org (Administrative Assistant), & Eric.Fritz@lcps.org (Assistant Principal)

• 8th Grade Support (House A) = Jennifer.Kassander@lcps.org (Grade-Level Dean), Kathryn.Plys@lcps.org (Counselor - Last Names A-L), Katharine.Smorodin@lcps.org (Counselor - Last Names M-Z), Guendolen.Wajsgras@lcps.org (Administrative Assistant), & Nicholas.Fisher@lcps.org (Assistant Principal)

• Administration = Nicholas.Fisher@lcps.org (Assistant Principal), Eric.Fritz@lcps.org (Assistant Principal), Christiana.McCormick@lcps.org (Assistant Principal), David.Shaffer@lcps.org (Principal)
• Attendance = Amy.Raye@lcps.org (Registrar) or Eric.Fritz@lcps.org (Admin. POC/AP)
• Facility Use = Eric.Fritz@lcps.org
• Family Liaison = Cintia.Lutz@lcps.org
• Financial Matters = Missy.Hooper@lcps.org
• Food Services = Farzana.Chowdhury@lcps.org
• Gifted & Talented Program (Spectrum) = Amy.Fields@lcps.org
• Health Services/Medication/Immunizations = Joy.Jones@lcps.org (Nurse) & Kaitlyn.Bowman@lcps.org (SNA)
• Intramural Sports = Lee.Koudela@lcps.org (Intramural Coordinator)
• Main Office = Gwendolyn.Pride@lcps.org & Diana.S.Lopez@lcps.org
• ParentVUE = Missy.Hooper@lcps.org or Courtney.Bredow@lcps.org
• PTA = president@rbmspta.org & copresident@rbmspta.org
• Registration/Enrollment = Amy.Raye@lcps.org
• Safety & Security = Devin.Mickens@loudoun.gov (SRO), Preston.Timbers@lcps.org (SSO), & Samantha.Rogers@lcps.org (SSO)
• Special Education = Nicholas.Fisher@lcps.org (Special Education Contact/AP), Kevin.Lancor@lcps.org (Department Chair/SALT), Tara.Daugherty@lcps.org (Dean)
• Student Services = Harveen.Pantleay@lcps.org (Social Worker), Nicole.Manzo@lcps.org (School Psychologist), & Imani.Hagans@lcps.org (Students Assistance Specialist)
• Technology Support = Niles.Elhafdi@lcps.org or call (571) 252-2112
• Testing = Christiana.McCormick@lcps.org
• Transportation = Call (571) 252-1700 or visit https://www.lcps.org/Transportation