Rockburn Report

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Hello Rockburn Families!!

We hope you have enjoyed the snow. This week the temperatures look like a heat wave.

Today is the start of the 3rd quarter. It's a good time to talk to your children about a goal they may have for the 2nd half of the year. It's hard to believe we are already half way through the 24-25 school year.

Have a great week!

Family Fun Night is back- March 13 from 6:00-7:30. Families can join teachers and staff for a night of activities, crafts and movement. More details about the specific activities and sign up to come soon! So, please be on the lookout.

To make this event possible, we do need your help with a few items. Please consider donating an item or two from our Amazon Wishlist. We appreciate all of your support to help make this night possible! Thank you! We look forward to seeing you all on March 13th!

Do you have a kindergartener who will be attending Rockburn next year, 2025-2026? If yes, come join us, the Kindergarten Team, March 6th from 5-7pm in the Cafeteria. (This event is for future kindergarteners and not current kindergarteners!) Drop in at any time during the evening to verify your incoming student’s registration, meet some teachers and health room staff, and build a toolkit to prepare for Kindergarten. We recommend you complete registration prior to the event or bring a non-cellphone device with you to complete the online portion of registration. Note that the registration for 2025-26 incoming kindergarteners will begin March 4th. Please do not register prior to this date.

As we reach the midpoint of the school year, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the importance of maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all our students. One of the most critical issues we face as a school community is bullying, which can have lasting effects on children’s well-being, social development, and academic success. We believe that addressing bullying requires a partnership between students, families, and school staff.

Understanding Bullying

Bullying is more than just occasional teasing. It is intentional, repeated aggressive behavior that can be verbal, physical, or social, and it often involves an imbalance of power. While some bullying behaviors can be overt, others are more subtle but just as harmful. Examples of bullying include:

• Physical bullying: Hitting, pushing, or damaging property.

• Verbal bullying: Name-calling, teasing, and hurtful comments.

• Social/Relational bullying: Spreading rumors, excluding others, and social manipulation.

• Cyberbullying: Using digital platforms to harass or intimidate someone.

How You Can Help at Home

Parents play an essential role in preventing bullying and supporting their children through difficult experiences. Here are some steps you can take:

• Talk to Your Child: Encourage open communication with your child about their social experiences, both online and offline. Discuss how they should handle situations where they witness bullying or experience it themselves.

• Set a Positive Example: Show your child how to be kind and respectful toward others. Modeling good behavior in your interactions will teach them valuable social skills.

• Monitor Online Activity: If your child uses social media or online platforms, make sure you are aware of their online interactions. Cyberbullying can be particularly damaging, and it’s important to stay engaged with your child’s digital life.

• Reinforce Respect and Empathy: Remind your child that treating others with respect and kindness is always the right thing to do, no matter the situation. Teach them how to stand up for others in a positive way, not by fighting, but by seeking help and offering support.

• Support School Efforts: Be an active partner in your child’s education and in the school’s anti-bullying efforts. Attend parent meetings, participate in workshops, and reinforce school policies at home.

Together, we can build a culture of respect, kindness, and safety in our school, ensuring that every student feels valued and supported. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe. More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. An online version for reporting is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

Dear Rockburn Families,

Welcome back from Winter Break, and welcome to 2025! We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable time with family and friends, and are ready to start the new year refreshed and energized. As we continue to work together to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students, we would like to take a moment to remind everyone of some important safety guidelines for both drivers and walkers in and around our school zones. Your cooperation helps ensure that our school remains a safe and welcoming place for all.

Please see the attached PDF as an important safety reminder. Thank you!

As we enter into the colder winter months, we wanted to send this reminder about outdoor recess.

Children are expected to wear warm clothing to protect them during cold weather when participating in recess or outside activities. The decision to go outside or stay inside for recess, physical education, or any other outdoor activity is a decision made daily based on the following criteria:

• Temperature and humidity

• Wind chill

• Heat index and air quality

• Age of students

• Length of time outdoors

• Adequacy of the children’s clothing

• Condition of the playground

• Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)

• Thunder and lightning

Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess, outdoor eating, physical education, or any other outdoor activity when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index reading is less than 95.

It is time to order your memory book. The link below will be active through Friday, April 11th. This yearly classic is filled with collage pages for each grade level and many of the spirit days. The cost is $22 and all orders this year are online only. Use the link below and the enter the code:

• Go to ybpay.com and enter code 15120825

This year we are going to work with PTA to try to raise funds for a new electronic sign out front. Our sign is looking a little dated and old. One way we're going to raise funds is to sell spirit wear. Please click on the link to check out our amazing store! Shop away!!!

RES Spirit wear

Please fill out your Family File today!

It is very important that each year, every family update their Family File. Please make sure all

Here is a direct link to HCPSS Connect. The Family File tab will be on the left hand side once you have logged into HCPSS Connect.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the Family File.

We will once again be doing prize cart at recess! If you are able to help out, please sign up. Each slot is 30 minutes.

Prize Cart Help

Please click here for our Counselor Corner, this will be continually update by Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Braxton-Cheek

RES Counselor Corner

January

1 - New Year's Day - schools and offices closed

2 - Return to school!

20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - schools and offices closed

23 - Schools close 3 hours early 12:15pm

29 - Professional Work Day - Schools closed for students

February

5 - Schools closed 3 hours early for P/T Conferences

6 - Schools closed 3 hours early for P/T Conferences

7- Professional Work Day - Schools closed for students

17 - President's Day - Schools and Offices Closed

2/12 100th Day of School - Any shirt with numbers or math-related [To be modified if we have snow days]

3/7 - College Shirt or Career Day

4/4 - Culture / Heritage Day

January 13 - https://secure.smore.com/n/9vdkg7-rockburn-report

December 16 - https://secure.smore.com/n/w6ajg-rockburn-report

November 11 - https://secure.smore.com/n/v0y3p-rockburn-report

The RES PTA is planning a new event for this year, a 5th grade dance to be held at Elkridge Landing Middle School in April! We are looking for 5th grade parent volunteers to join a committee that will start meeting next week and will help with planning this event. If you are interested in helping, please send an email to president@rockburnpta.org. We appreciate your help!

We have begun planning Staff Appreciation Week for this year. We would once again like to assemble 72 gift baskets that we will raffle off to our wonderful staff throughout the week. To make this happen, we need your help. Please consider purchasing items from our wish list, which will be delivered directly to the PTA. Thank you in advance for your support!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JKW4WCU5MFWD?ref_=wl_share

The RES PTA is once again hosting a Skate Night at Wheels Skating Center on Saturday, February 8th from 5 pm to 7 pm. Tickets are only available for pre-sale and can be purchased at https://fspta-00031574.givebacks.com/store/items/1029183. Skates can be rented for $4 each at Wheels Skating Center, or you can bring your own.

The RES PTA is once again partnering with AR Workshop to bring you a morning of crafting with your kiddo(s)! Save the date of Sunday, February 9th from 10 am-12pm. Registration information will be coming shortly.

Our spring book fair will be on Thursday, February 27-Friday, February 28th at the Ellicott City Barnes and Noble. Join us in store on Thursday, February 27th for readings from teachers and an appearance by Rocky! This is a great time to buy some new books for the PTA read-a-thon happening in March!

Save the date of Thursday, March 27th from 6:30-8pm for BINGO night! We will have fun raffle prizes for all ages!