Welcome Back to School! (Principal Letter)

Dear Rocky Hill Families,

On behalf of the staff of Rocky Hill Middle School, I would like to welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year!  We hope you are having a restful summer and are looking forward to the start of a new school year.  I am enthusiastic to work with our RHMS staff to provide your child high quality learning and social experiences as I enter my 26th year in MCPS, and my 8th year as RHMS principal.  Our staff is committed to our students and we value the trust you place in us every day.  We welcome our new families and thank our returning families for your collaboration, support, and involvement last school year.

Rocky Hill has an outstanding tradition of parent involvement in the school community, and I encourage all parents to get involved throughout the year.  Welcome to our PTA President: John Keister and PTA Vice President (Education): Michele Miller-Orsega.  Thank you to the entire PTA Executive Board for their planning and preparation for this coming year.  Please check out the PTA portion of the RHMS website.  I strongly believe that there is no limit to what our students can accomplish when parents and staff work together collaboratively.  I look forward to our continued collaboration in order to meet the individual academic and social-emotional goals of our middle school learners. 

We have been diligently working this summer to plan for the school year.  Our student enrollment is around 1000 students, with new students enrolling each week.  I am pleased to welcome several new staff members:

Name

Position

From

Rosanna Baek

Resource Teacher (Reading, ESOL, & World Language)

Roberto Clemente Middle School

Elizabeth Cammack

Media Assistant

Medallion Hotel Corporation at Hilton Garden Inn Downtown DC

Chantal Charles

Teacher (PE/Health)

Francis Scott Key Middle School

Richard Cook

Security Assistant

Daly Elementary School

Eric Elmer

Teacher (Science)

North Bethesda Middle School

Nicole Giorgio

Teacher (World Studies 6/English 6)

North Bethesda Middle School

Troy Horsley

6th grade Assistant School Administrator

Francis Scott Key Middle School

Suzanne Keller

Teacher (ESOL)

Clearspring Elementary School

Monica McCants

Teacher (World Language French & Spanish)

Roberto Clemente Middle School

Jovina Sanz

Special Education Paraeducator

Quince Orchard High School

Kate Stone

Teacher (Lights, Camera, Literacy)

Laytonsville Elementary School

Ashley Thorsten

Teacher (Focus)

Lakelands Park Middle School

Takiyah Thumma

Teacher (Reading/Digital Literacy)

Lakelands Park Middle School

David Yeom

Counselor

Argyle Middle School


First day of school
Monday, August 31, 2020 is the first day of school.  We will send the bell schedule and weekly student schedule once the board of Education approves this on August 25, 2020.

Maryland Green School and website use
RHMS is a Sustainable Maryland Green School!  Our school has demonstrated a continuous effort to integrate sustainable best management practices and an environmental education curriculum, into our daily operations.  As a green school we are continuing the RHMS tradition of a “green” summer mailing—you will not have a packet mailed to your home.  ALL of our updates, weekly electronic handouts and forms are on our website.  Please bookmark our school website:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rockyhillms/

  • All of the items that are August hot topics are on our website at the “Back to School Information” quick link (left side of page):  student forms, suggested supply list, MCPS important dates, bell schedule (TBA) , PTA membership information (welcome letter coming next week), Immunization Requirements for Incoming Grade 7 Students and other MCPS announcements.
  • Follow RH on Twitter at “@RockyHillPRIN”

Orientation for Incoming 6th grade students
On Thursday, August 27, 2020, we will have the incoming 6th grade student orientation.  More details and times to follow next week!

Ms. DeFiore, Mr. Parker, Mr. Horsley, and I look forward to working together as the administrative team to serve our RHMS community this year!

Respectfully,
Cynthia Eldridge, Ed.D.