1. Important Dates

March 12 - PTA Meeting, 7 PM, Library

March 20 - No School (Holiday - Eid al-Fitr)

March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release, No After-School Program

March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break

April 6 - No School (Teacher Workday)

April 10 - No School (School Planning Day)

April 13 - Rising 9th Grade Activity Fairs - more info coming soon!

2. A Note from the Principal

Dear Rocky Run Families-

We are the champions! The atmosphere was electric this past Friday at the annual Franklin vs. Rocky Run basketball game. Our faculty team won, as did our boys team (in a nail biter). Our girls team fought hard, but lost on a buzzer beater. The event was energetic and I could not be more proud of the way our students cheered! Each of them exhibited the RAISE traits, and I am proud that the trophy will reside at Rocky Run this year. Seeing it everyday in the main office will be a great reminder to students and staff about the core principles that we value. I might have even sent a few photos of it to my counterpart at Franklin!

Other than proudly displaying the trophy in the main office, the highlight of my week was attending Dayna Broskey's Developing Language class. The English Language Learners set up a "fair" to showcase the tri-fold presentations they completed on countries around the world. Each presentation highlighted geography, cuisine, etc. The students did an AMAZING job!

Be sure to remember to set your clocks forward one hour in the evening on Sunday, March 8. Daylight Savings is a great opportunity for students and families to review their morning routines and set up structures to be successful for the remainder of the year. As a result of the time change, many students may be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe, and be ready to learn at 7:30 AM on Monday.

Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Peter Kownacki
Principal
Rocky Run Middle School
@pakownacki

3. Action Items for Families

Purple Up to Support Military-Connected Youth

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day!

This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military.

FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. These items highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS!

For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.

Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9

FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.

Survey topics include:

Welcoming environment.
Communication.
Student success.
Advocacy.
Family and school partnerships.
Community partnerships.

The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.

PTA No Fuss Fundraiser

RRMS No-Fuss Fundraiser – Register Now! It’s easy, fun, and stress-free! Set up your student page, pick a goal that excites you, and share your link with family & friends. Every donation counts! Register Here

Steps:

1. Create a student page.

2. Select your correct team.

3. Set fundraising goal.

4. Review and confirm.

5. Share link with family and friends!

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu. Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!