THE WEEKLY WILDCAT UPDATES 2015-2016
Below are important reminders to help you stay involved and engaged with your student’s
upcoming events at Rocky Hill Middle School.
Follow us on –https://twitter.com/RockyHillPRIN
NEW bell times
Please note the new school times: school begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. Students may
enter the school building each day at 7:50 am. The first bell rings at 8:10 and school starts at 8:15
am. PLEASE do not drop your child off any earlier than 7:50 am since there is no adult
supervision before 7:50 am. Please also pick up your child in the afternoon no later than 3:10 pm.
Rocky Hill Events/ Information:
Monday, Sept. 14 
(No School)
Tuesday, Sept. 15, -45671
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Father Black Star Project-7:30-8:05am
Afternoon Show: TV Studio
Drama -Shrek (the musical) –Call backs & dancers –ONLY- 3:10pm
RecXtra Fantasy Football League (rm 149) 3:10pm
Chipotle Spirit Night-4:00pm - 8:30pm.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, - 23456
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Drama-Shrek, Jr-Rehearsal-Room 105-3:10pm
RecXtra Golf Club Information Meeting (location TBD)- 3:10pm
Thursday, Sept. 17, -71234
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Drama - Shrek Jr.-Rehearsal – Room 105-3:10pm
RecXtra Fantasy Football League (rm 149)- 3:10pm
Friday, Sept. 11, -56712
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7th Grade –Kids Under Construction (Team Building)
NO afterschool activities
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RH Back to School Night Information now on our Website:
Thank you so much to everyone who made it to our Back to School Night this past week. We
had an exceptional turn out both nights! On our RH website, in the About Us section, we have
added a section with all of the Edline codes, our grading policy, and the flipchart about
Communication & Edline that was presented during homeroom for your convenience.
Lorie Quinn, 6th Grade Team Leader OE Coordinator, Math Teacher, 301-353-8282 x 170.
Attention all RH fathers, grandfathers and uncles!
The Black Star Project, in partnership locally with Fathers and Friends Project of the East
County Community Circle, are thrilled to invite fathers, grandfathers, and uncles to attend
the Million Father March 2015 at Rocky Hill Middle School! The Black Star Project would be
honored to have all fathers and father figures help us greet students on Tuesday, September 15,
2015 from 7:30-8:05 am. The Million Father March is a special day when fathers and other
men make a commitment to their children, their families, their communities, and their country
with their dynamic presence at schools. This is the real Father’s Day! If you are a father or
father figure and would like to help welcome students in the morning before school or send
them off after school please contact Pam Wise, NAACP Representative
@ [email protected].
PASSWORD UPDATE
The first week of school each student received a plastic protected password sheet that includes
all of their passwords for the year (computer log in, Edline, Google Apps for Education,
Noodletools, Destiny Library Catalog and Discovery Education). These password sheets should
be kept in their 3-ring binders, not at home, so they can access them during the school day as
needed.
NOTE: Edline passwords for grade 6 students will not be activated until they attend Media
Center Orientation in September.
MCPS PARENT ACADEMY
The MCPS Parent Academy offers parents and community members the opportunity to attend
FREE workshops that provide information, resources, tools and tips to support their children’s
success in school. Don’t miss the fall season of workshops, which will be offered on a range of
topics, including cybersafety and social media, advocating for your special education child,
religious diversity and teen substance abuse. Childcare and interpretation services are provided
at all sessions. A full list of courses is available on the Parent Academy website. (See
link) http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/workshops.aspx
HOMEWORK HOTLINE LIVE!
Homework Hotline Live! (HHL) is kicking off a new fall season on Tuesday, Sept. 15, to help
students in kindergarten through 12th grade by offering free homework help. Students can
contact HHL teachers from 4:30–6 p.m. on the phone or 4:30–9:30 p.m. online on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 6-9:30 p.m. online on Mondays. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays, from 4:30–6 p.m., questions will be answered “live” on TV. Questions submitted
at other times will receive a text or email response. Homework Hotline Live! can be viewed on
MCPS-TV (Comcast 34, Verizon 36, RCN 89) and on the web
at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/itv/hhl/. Students have several ways to reach
HHL. They can ask questions by:
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Making a phone call to 301-279-3234
Visiting the HHL website (AskHHL.org)
Sending a text message to 724-427-5445
Sending an email ([email protected])
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Posting a message to Facebook (facebook.com/AskHHL)
Sending a Tweet to @AskHHL
Posting to Instagram (AskHHL)
IMPORTANT BEGINNING OF SCHOOL FORMS:
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PARENT CHILD REUNIFICATION FORMS (PCR): Please be sure to return your
(PCR) form to the main office. This information is used to contact families in case of an
emergency. (PCR Form -See Link
below) http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rockyhillms/abo
ut/parent_reunification0910.pdf
MAIN OFFICE UPDATES:
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HOURS: The main office hours are 7:30am until 4:00pm. A reminder that the main office
for our school closes at 4:00 pm each day. The phones are not answered after this time
and all messages left will be picked up the following morning.
Edline: 6th grade, and new 7th/8th grade parent Edline activation codes were mailed by
MCPS last week. If you have questions about Edline, please contact Ms. Laurie AbitaGramatges at [email protected]
ATTENDANCE: RHMS has a new attendance procedure this year. To report an
absence for the day, please leave a voice message on the new attendance phone line at
301-601-3195 OR email the Attendance Secretary at [email protected].
Please include the full name and grade of your child. For questions about absence calls
you may have received, please also call the attendance line (301-601-3195) and leave a
message with your name, your student’s name and your phone number. In the event that
you have an unexpected early dismissal, please call 301-353-8282 (See Link
Below) http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rockyhillms/ne
ws/homeroom/ATTENDANCENOTE_revSept2015doc.pdf
EARLY DISMISSAL/ABSENCE SAMPLE FORM: Parents wishing to pick up their
children at any time, prior to the 3:00pm dismissal, must send in a note with their child
to be processed in the main office at the beginning of the day. Rocky Hill has prepared a
form for your convenience. (See Link)
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rockyhillms/news/Early
DismissalAbsenceForm.pdf
PARENT/STUDENT SCHOOL CHECKLIST: A checklist has been created to
minimize forgotten items. We encourage the use of this checklist, as it will help cut
down on class interruptions. As Staff, Teachers, and Parents we are committed to
assuring that instruction is not repeatedly disturbed due to classroom interruptions.(See
link below)
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rockyhillms/news/
homeroom/ParentStudentChecklist(1).pdf
ROCKY HILL PTA UPDATES:
Rocky Hill MS-Spirit Night-Chipotle Germantown: Sept. 15 Make dinner a selfless act by
joining us for a fundraiser to support Rocky Hill Middle School. Come in to the Chipotle
at 19881 Century Blvd in Germantown on Tuesday, September
15th between 4:00pm and 8:30pm. Show flyer to cashier and 50% of the proceeds will be
donated to Rocky Hill Middle School. (See
Link) http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rockyhillms/news/homero
om/RHMSSpiritNightFlyer%2091515.pdf
Media Center Volunteers Needed: Mrs. Gramatges and Mrs., Heidary in the Media Center are
in need of parent volunteers for the entire school year in the mornings from 7:45 to 8:10 AM to
help out with checking out books, handing out passes, checking contest answers and just being
an adult presence in the Media Center. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank
you! (See Link) http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e49aea729a5fb6-parent
International Night: Hello Rocky Hill Community: Please join us Friday, September 25,
2015 as we “Uncover the World” at our annual International Night event! Be prepared to enjoy
tasty treats, table displays of arts & crafts, door prizes, awards and some amazing
performances! Deadline for Table Display: On or Before September 16, 2015, Please let us
know if you would like to collaborate with other folks from your country or volunteer your
time. Any questions or concerns, email Sherene Maitland at [email protected]
*Are you passionate about Art? Well, get your creative engines started and allow us
to “Uncover the World” through your eyes!!! Winner will receive a Gift Card and Bragging
Rights!!! You Don’t Want to Miss It!!! All entries must be submitted to Sherene Maitland.
Deadline has been extended to Tuesday, September 15, 2015. Entries or questions can be sent
by email to [email protected] or dropped off at the PTA mailbox.
M.O.R.E. *Men Organized to Raise Engagement ~ Gentleman are you looking
for MORE fun, MORE encouragement, just MORE out of life! If so, I encourage you to come
out this Wednesday, September 16th after school! I promise you MORE is better. For additional
information, please contact Sullivan Phillips, MORE Chair, @[email protected].
Chess and STEM Clubs: *Chess and STEM clubs begin September 16th & 17th. Don't forget to
turn in your registration forms on or before these days as not to miss the first sessions.
Registration forms can be downloaded from the PTA website. For additional information,
please contact, Craig Harris, Chess and STEM Chair, @[email protected]
Join the PTA: *Membership Matters ~ Greetings from Diana Encinas, Membership Chair.
Thanks to all of our parents, staff and community members who have joined our PTA. We
TRULY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUPPORT!! However, we still aren't quite near our goal for
this year, this year we would love to have at least 500 staff and parent members join the
PTA. The PTA is doing a lot of new things this year and we need your help, so please consider
joining if you haven’t already. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email Diana
Encinas at [email protected] or at 301-370-2116. Thank you so much and keep sending
those membership forms in!
*Rocky Hill Middle School – PTA Sponsored Color Fun Run on October 24 at RHMS: Come
out and show your support by running or walking and having lots of MESSY FUN in our
1st ever Color Fun Run!!! Registration is $20 per person (which includes shirt and supplies) and
is open from September 8th to September 25th. Late Registration is $25 but no guarantee of shirt
or supplies- you can wear your own white shirt. Registration flyer can be found on the PTA
website. After you are done with the Color Fun Run, stick around for some more fun with our
DJ from Unique Dreams! Any questions, contact: [email protected].
Stay Connected! Stay connected with the PTA and sign up to receive updates and events and
all things PTA! To subscribe to our email updates, please go to: http://eepurl.com/bmEVD
Directory Advertising: Rocky Hill has an outstanding tradition of parent involvement in the
school community, and we encourage all parents to get involved throughout the year. The PTA
is currently working on the RHMS Student Directory and would like to offer our friends and
families an opportunity to advertise your services to this group of people who are actively
engaged in every aspect of the community. You won’t find a better advertising value! Student
directories are used in many, many times over, and kept throughout the year. Many of us keep
our directories for years and refer to them regularly. Students in our school participate in a
wide range of activities, from music and arts, to all kinds of sports and volunteer activities.
Their parents need a broad variety of services to meet the needs of their busy lives – everything
from insurance, financial services, tax preparation, real estate, legal, medical, dental and personal
care services, to home decorating, home repair, auto repair, entertainment, arts recreation and
other opportunities. For additional information, including advertising cost and deadlines, please
contact Alicia Wilson at [email protected]
Your funds will directly support the RHMS PTA. Our PTA contributes to numerous events,
programs, school enhancements and we continually acquire materials to help students in the
classroom reach their potential! We work with staff and teachers to ensure a safe and
productive learning environment, and work hard to keep the lines of communication open on
any and all issues on the minds of our parents and community. Thank you for consideration. We
hope you will continue to support the Rocky Hill Middle School community!
Executives Board: President: Alicia Wilson; PTA Vice-President (Education): Paulette Forrest; PTA
Vice-President (Fundraising): Robin Turner Gray; Treasurer: Rowland Dennie; Secretary: Michele
Tregoning; Membership: Diana Encinas.