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
Rocky Hill Weekly Overview Section & Important News:
Monday, May 2, -23456
 Staff Appreciation Week
 Afternoon Show-TV Studio 1:43 p.m.
 RH-Music Department Fundraiser at the Chick-Fil Germantown)-5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, May 3, -71234
 Tennis Club-(On Tennis Court) - 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Soccer-Girls @ Kingsview/Boys vs. Kingsview -3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Homestretch Club-Room 274-3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4, -56712
 Robotics 1-Room 149-3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Tennis Club-(On Tennis Court) - 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Board Games Club-Room 259-3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
Thursday, May 5,-34567
 Robotics 2- Room 149-3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Soccer-Boys @ Poole/Girls vs. Poole -3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Science Club-Room 266-3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Tennis Club-(On Tennis Court) - 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
 Homestretch Club-Room 274-3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
Friday, May 6, -12345
 NO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
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April -RHMS Highlights Section:
PARCC Testing Information
Dear Parents:
As you may be aware, the state of Maryland is giving all public school students the Partnership
for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).
The PARCC assessments serve as an "educational GPS system" assessing students' current
performance. It points the way to what students need to learn to be ready for the next grade level
and, by high school graduation, for college and/or a career.
The PARCC assessments are designed to give schools and teachers more information to improve
instruction. Moreover, PARCC is designed to let parents know how their child is progressing
academically. This more detailed information can lead to strong engagement between parents
and teachers. (See link for additional information)
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rockyhillms/news/news.aspx?id=480057
Outdoor Education = Success
Rocky Hill sixth-grade students had a fabulous time at Summit Lake while participating in the
Outdoor Education Program. Students, high school counselors, staff, and parents enjoyed many
exciting and memorable moments at Summit Lake Camp. We would like to thank all the parents
who generously contributed their time and talents to make this experience a huge success. We
had one of our best weeks ever! 500 kids and 3 sessions! The students were terrific, and they
took part in so many new and wonderful learning opportunities, pushing themselves to new
limits. We have an amazing group of sixth-graders! Thank you for allowing us to provide this
unique learning experience for your child. We are so proud of each and every one of them!
There are numerous lost and found items (pillows, sleeping bags, boots, water bottles, rain
ponchos, coats and clothes) that have been temporarily placed on a table near the sixth-grade
elevator. Please remind your child to check for missing items as soon as possible. Any items not
claimed by May 6th will be donated to a local charity.
Parents of 6th Graders-Outdoor Ed Medication:
All outdoor education medications must be picked up from the health room by Friday, May
13. An adult must pick up the medications. Medications that are not picked up by May 13 will
be destroyed. Thank you.
Chick-Fil-A Music Dept. Fundraiser Night -May 2, 2016:
On Monday, May 2, 2016, Chick-Fil-A will host a Music Department Fundraiser at the ChickFil-A in Germantown. Come out between 5pm-8pm and get dinner. When you order, make sure
to mention the Rocky Hill Music Department and a portion of your bill will be donated to the
Music Department. Thanks for your support!
Cafeteria Information:
As of May 2, 2016, students will no longer be allowed to borrow money for lunch, from the
cafeteria account. Below we’ve added information, and the website link for your quick
convenience to make sure there is an adequate amount in his/her account. If you have any
questions, please contact Michele Ray @301-601-3198 or [email protected].
Use the internet to access to your child’s cafeteria account! Check balances, view purchases, set
up recurring payments, and receive low balance email notifications. (See link below)
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home
Annual WillPower Staff vs. Parent Basketball Game:
The 15th Annual WillPower Staff vs. Parent Basketball Fundraiser game for cancer research will
be held Friday, May 13th! This year, Chic-Fil-A dinner, inflatables, and kids games will be held
at Rocky Hill from 4:30-6:30pm. At 6:30pm the crowd will be asked to go over to Clarksburg
High School for the basketball game where we will have plenty of seating for everyone! Also,
this year we will have many vendors selling their items at the high school from 7-9pm during the
basketball game. This is a great opportunity to pick something up for Mom for Mother’s Day or
to give Mom a chance to shop while you enjoy the game! We will also be raffling off an iPad, a
bike, a chance to win a car, and items donated by the vendors during the game. We will be
selling snacks, pizza and beverages at the game as well. So, make sure to mark your calendars
for Friday, May 13th and show your WillPower PRIDE!!!!
SSL Opportunities –May 2016
AAUW Gaithersburg sponsors a book sale May 5 - 7 to raise funds for scholarships and
programs for girls. We promote a clean environment by recycling books which otherwise enter
the solid waste stream. Most books sell at modest prices, $3 or less, to encourage reading and
literacy. The event has been preapproved by MCPS for SSL hrs.
AAUW needs volunteers to help sort and organize over 30,000 books. This event is at Asbury
Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, near Lakeforest Mall. Prior to the sale - from Thursday April
28 to Wednesday, May 4 - we prepare for the sale which runs from Thursday, May 5 to Saturday
afternoon, May 7. On Sunday, May 8 we will clean up.
Students can earn SSL hours at the following times:
Dates: Times:
Sunday, May 1 noon - 6 pm sort and organize Mon - Wed, May 2 - 4 3 - 5 pm: sort and organize
Thurs & Fri., May 5 – 6 3 - 8 pm: organize and straighten Saturday, May 7 9 am - 6 pm:
straighten, customer service,
Sunday, May 8 noon – 5pm: pack books into boxes and stack
We especially need help May 1 and Sat. & Sun, May 7 & 8.
Location: Asbury Methodist Village, Rosborough Center Community Rooms, Bldg 409,
Gaithersburg, 20877. Enter at Lost Knife & Odendhal Roads (across from the bus depot at
Lakeforest). Using a GPS, enter 301 Odendhal Road, 20877.
Students send your name, school, grade, telephone, and the exact days and times you wish
to volunteer to Elizabeth Hessel at [email protected] OR
Register on the website: http://www.montgomeryserves.org/
Keyword = AAUW ZIP = 20877
For questions contact Elizabeth Hessel [email protected] or 301-840-1258 (NO text messages
Wildcat Families,
Just a reminder that this year the Rocky Hill Middle School in conjunction with the Parents
Teacher Association (PTA) has an initiative designed to support those families and community
members in need called Wildcats Care. The Wildcats Care program has food and household
items that we can box up for your family. We are Wildcats helping each other!
If you would like to receive food/household items from our pantry please email our PTA
President, Alicia Wilson at [email protected]
Yearbook- Deadline Information:
Yearbooks are still on sale! Flyers are in the main office. Each regular hard cover yearbook
costs $25.00. You can pay by a check written to RHMS or cash turned into the main office. Be
sure your name is on the order form!!! The deadline to pay by cash or check for a regular
yearbook is June 1st or until we run out of books. At this time there are about 80 books available.
You can no longer pay on line or order customized yearbooks.
RHMS Summer School July 2016:
Pending MCPS budget approval, Rocky Hill is planning to offer summer school classes to
incoming 6th, 7th and 8th graders. We are planning on offering Enrichment and Support classes in
math and reading. Specific course offerings and detailed information will be available in early
May. At this time, please be aware that classes are usually held for 3 or 4 weeks in July from
7:45 am to 11:30am.
If you have questions, you may contact Lisabeth Belman, RHMS Summer School Coordinator,
at 301-353-8282 or [email protected].
Media Center Information:
Media Center Maker space-Items needed for next near: The media center is looking for old or
broken equipment that students can take apart and explore. This includes old electronics, toys,
and small appliances. Please do not include anything that contains chemicals. These items will
not be returned.
We are also looking for tool donations such as: Flat Head and Phillips Head Screw Drivers of
various sizes, safety goggles, pliers, wrenches and a hammer.
Other maker spacer donations that would be greatly appreciated are: Little Bits kits
(http://littlebits.cc/), Snap Circuit kits (http://www.snapcircuits.net/), and Paper Circuits kits
(http://tinkering.exploratorium.edu/paper-circuits). These URLS are explanations of the products
listed and most of these can be purchased through Amazon.
If you have a donation, please bring it to the main office labeled Media Center Donation. Thank
you to all who have supported our program this year!
Spring 2016 Parent Academy Schedule:
Registration is open for the 2016 spring session of the MCPS Parent Academy. Parent Academy
workshops give parents useful tips, and tools to support their children’s success in, and out of
school. A wide array of topics will be covered during the spring season, including active parenting,
preparing for college, PARCC assessments, CyberSafety, and social media. Please encourage
members of your school community to participate in these helpful workshops. The schedule of
workshops is available at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/.
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RHMS PTA Highlights Section:
RHMS PTA Notes: Stay connected with the PTA and sign up to receive updates, events, and all
things PTA! To subscribe to our email updates, click here: http://eepurl.com/brnEVD
ROCK YOUR WILDCAT PRIDE:
There are many ways to support Rocky Hill and the PTA this year! We could not do all we do
without your support! Take a look at the following links for more ways to rock your Wildcat
Pride!
*Spirit Night - 2016 – Upcoming dates are: April 25th –May 2nd or May 3rd
*Non-Event Fundraiser
Executive Board Opportunities for the 2016 ~ 2017 School Year:
Changing Lives One Roar at a Time!
Dear Wildcat Families,
According to MD PTA bylaws, PTA needs to have a President and Treasurer to exist. Without
these two positions, RHMS will not have a PTA in 2016-17.
The following positions are OPEN for the Executive Board:
 President (close working relationship w/ RHMS administration, helps guide PTA
committee chairs, conducts 5 PTA meetings per year with the VPs, liaison between
students/parents/school/community. In addition, the President work to support Wildcats
Care and focuses on service to the community. )
 Vice President - Fundraising (organize Spirit Nights, oversee the Color Fun Run
committee, might create new ways of raising money to support the students at RHMS)
 Treasurer (bookkeeping of income/expenses of the PTA, deposit money, disperses
payment or reimbursement to PTA chairs)
 Secretary (attend 5 PTA meetings a year to keep record of the minutes).
Without a PTA Rocky Hill will NOT HAVE:
 Family events ~ including the Color Fun Run, International Night, the Craft & Vendor
Boutique, and the Black History Month Celebration.
 Cultural arts assemblies for our children during school day
 8th grade celebrations
 Chess
 FLES
 STEM
 MORE
 Student Directory
 Spirit Gear
 Organization of parent volunteers who assist the school
 Staff Appreciation
In addition the PTA subsidizes OVER $7,500.00 worth of activities, clubs and academic
enrichment.
Without a committed Executive Board, these items WILL NOT be funded by the RHMS PTA.
Because we did not have a slate for elections this year, all nominations for the Executive Board,
must come from the floor at the next PTA meeting on May 10th.
Regards,
RHMS PTA
Executive Board
2015 ~ 2016