Coyote Connections - Family Update
January 5, 2025
Principals' Message
Dear RLC Families,
Happy New Year! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable holiday season, filled with moments of joy and connection. As we return to school tomorrow, we are excited to kick off 2025 with renewed energy and enthusiasm for learning.
As we begin the new year, we want to emphasize the importance of consistent attendance and on-time arrival. Regular attendance is key to ensuring that your child stays on track with their academic progress and fully engages in the exciting learning opportunities we have planned. We understand that life can get busy, but when students are present, they are better able to build relationships, stay connected with their lessons, and grow both academically and socially.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful start to the year! We look forward to our Coyotes returning tomorrow!
Respectfully,
Uzma Askari, Principal
Ryan Mouw, Assistant Principal
Jennifer Hedges, Dean
Late Arrival to RLC
NEW: We have designated additional staff members to support families with signing in their child(ren) after the 8:00AM bell. All adults must have an valid ID to enter the school building. Students may not be dropped off when the doors are closed without parent supervision. This is a significant safety concern. We appreciate your understanding.
Additionally, we are kindly asking that you refrain from parking at Rockridge HS. This has resulted in students running across the crosswalk which can be unsafe. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain a safe environment for our RLC students.
Kindergarten and NEW students to the 25-26 School Year! Registration opens tomorrow!
It is almost time to register your new LCPS student for the 2025/26 school year! The online pre-registration portal for kindergartners and students new to LCPS will open on Monday, January 6, 2025. Current LCPS students do not need to complete this process.
The LCPS student registration process involves two steps for NEW students: online pre-registration and in-person registration appointments. The online pre-registration process includes determining your student’s home school, gathering the documents required for registration and uploading them to the pre-registration portal. Once pre-registration is complete, Mrs. Still-Jefferies (our school registrar) will contact you to schedule a registration appointment to be held after February 3, 2025.
If you have questions, please contact your student’s home school or LCPS Student Registration at RegistrationServices@lcps.org. See more information about Student Registration on the LCPS website.
Special Permission - Policy 8155 - LCPS Communication sent to families on 12/11/2024
At the December 10, 2024, School Board meeting, the Loudoun County School Board approved changes to the Special Permission process in Policy 8155, School Assignment. Special Permission is when LCPS parents/guardians request permission for their student to attend a school outside their assigned attendance zone.
Changes to the Special Permission process were made to ensure schools can plan earlier and more accurately for staffing and class sizes.
Some of the key changes to the Special Permission process are:
- The dates the Special Permission process opens and closes will occur earlier in the year.
- Special Permission applications to over-enrolled schools, including elementary schools, will not be accepted.
- Late applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
Special Permission Period
Per the updates to Policy 8155, the Special Permission period will now open on Monday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. for LCPS families. The Special Permission period will end on April 30 at 11:59 p.m. for both LCPS families and staff. Please note that the Special Permission process has always opened one month early for LCPS school-based staff. Official determinations for kindergarten students who apply for special permission by April 30 will be provided to the parent or legal guardian by July 1.
Parents of elementary students currently on special permission may submit a request to continue attending the Special Permission school on or before March 1.
Once the Special Permission period closes on April 30, requests for Special Permission will not be accepted. Previously, parents who made Special Permission requests outside the Special Permission period were permitted to appeal a Special Permission denial. This practice will no longer be permitted.
What Remains the Same About Special Permission
- To apply for Special Permission, parents/legal guardians must have a current LCPS address on file.
- Students must be registered at their zoned school of attendance within 30 days of applying for Special Permission.
- Special Permission may be approved only if there is capacity at the requested school.
- Except for kindergarten, LCPS will make an initial decision regarding Special Permission requests within 30 days of application submission. LCPS will determine kindergarten Special Permission placement decisions no later than July 1.
- If approved to attend a school on Special Permission, families must provide transportation to and from the school.
- All families who wish to apply and/or renew for Special Permission must do so annually.
Please visit the LCPS Special Permission website for more information. Once the Special Permission period opens, access to the Special Permission portal will be found on this webpage. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Student Services at (571) 252-1021.
LCPS Division Podcast
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) has launched a podcast to share the division’s news and stories. Feedback from families and staff has shown a significant desire for more positive and uplifting stories about the school division, including its students and staff. Now listeners can tune in every Thursday to a new episode on topics surrounding our work, initiatives and successes. The LCPS Podcast can be accessed at www.lcps.org/podcast and is available on all major streaming services.
Virtual Session offered by EL FACE
The Division of English Learners, Family and Community Engagement (EL FACE) Office cordially invites EL families to join The Family Room virtual session titled: English Learners and Giftedness: What EL Families Need to Know
Join our virtual session on Google Meet
Tuesday, December 17th, 2024
6 pm (English & Spanish)
7 pm (English & Arabic)
This virtual session is for families of multilingual learners in elementary and middle school. Explore the LCPS Gifted Education Program, its mission, program options, evaluation process, and family support. Families are encouraged to come with questions.
For more information, please access the flyers linked below:
Contact Sarah.Ocampo@lcps.org, DEL FACE Supervisor, with any questions.
Drop off items at RLC
As we continue to ensure a smooth and efficient start to the school day, we kindly ask that students have their lunch packed and all other items ready in the morning. If a lunch, water bottle or snack needs to be dropped off during the day, please leave it on the cart in the front office. It will be delivered to the student directly.
Please note that students do not need to leave the classroom to retrieve their items. Any items dropped off after 8:00 AM will be delivered to students in a timely manner. We kindly ask that families make every effort to pack all necessary items with their child before arriving at school to help minimize disruptions to the school day. Your cooperation and assistance in this matter are greatly appreciated!
LCPS Equity Event - January 15, 2025
The 2nd Annual joint event between DEIA and MSAAC will be held on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025! The event has a community and celebratory focus with food and families, surrounded by student artwork, essays, and poetry. We encourage students to share their voice and their message to be showcased in the new year! Here is the flyer with information and please feel free to share and/or ask questions, as they come up.
Parent Liaison
Mrs. Shinae Cho is RLC's Family Liaison. To ensure families get the support and resources they may need this school year, please complete and submit the form below at your earliest convenience. Survey information will help us understand the specific areas where assistance is required. Mrs. Cho's goal is to assist families in accessing available resources while maintaining complete confidentiality. Families are required to complete a new form each school year to reflect any changes in circumstances and needs. If you have any questions, or if your circumstances change please feel free to contact her at Shinae.Cho@lcps.org. Email contact is the quickest and most efficient way to connect with Mrs. Cho. She looks forward to partnering with RLC families this school year.
Upcoming Calendar Events
January 2025
January 6 - School Resumes for students and staff
January 10 - PTO Winter Bingo 5:30 - 8:00
Jamuary 13 - Spring After-School Activities begin
January 20 - MLK Day - no school for staff and students
January 23 - PTO Meeting @7:00
January 24 - End of Quarter 2 (Last day of the grading period)
January 27-28 - No school for students
January 29 - Lunar New Year - no school for staff and students
February 2025
February 3 - 2nd Quarter Report Cards Available on ParentVue
February 7 - PTO Stem Night
February 17 - No school for staff and students