MES Family Update- Week #11
Message from Central Office:
Dear Parents and Families,
This school year, RCPS joined the Comprehensive Instructional Program (CIP). CIP works with approximately 82 of Virginia’s 132 school divisions to support high-quality instruction through shared instructional practices, professional learning opportunities, and collaboration among educators.
As part of CIP, students in grades 3–5 complete benchmark assessments every nine weeks. These assessments provide teachers with valuable information about student learning and help identify skills and concepts that may need to be retaught or reinforced.
Students recently completed their first CIP benchmark, which assessed material taught during the first nine weeks of school. RCPS aligned our instructional pacing with the CIP pacing guides; however, there were a small number of questions on the benchmark that covered content that may not yet have been taught in all RCPS classrooms. To ensure that student grades fairly reflect the content they had the opportunity to learn, RCPS developed a formula to adjust benchmark grades accordingly. Students were not penalized for questions related to content that had not yet been taught.
Because of the testing window established for administering and completing the benchmarks, the grade for this first benchmark will appear in the gradebook during the second nine weeks, even though the assessment covered first-nine-weeks content.
The benchmark is one of several assessments teachers use to measure student learning and will be one of several grades within the performance category of the gradebook. It provides teachers with another source of information to help guide instruction and determine where students may need additional support, reteaching, or opportunities for continued growth. More information about the benchmark tests can be found on the RCPS webpage at https://www.rcps.net/page/understanding-cip-benchmarking/.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to support student learning.
Quarter 1 Benchmark Assessments continue next week with 4th Grade Science on Wednesday, October 28th. 5th Grade Science will take theirs on Thursday, October 29th.
Holidays with Heart
Holidays with Heart is an MES program designed to provide opportunities for MES families for both Holiday Assistance and Holiday Giving.
Thank you so much to the families who have reached out to communicate a need, as well as the many families who have already expressed interest in providing support.
If you are interested in being involved in either part of this program, the deadline for returning forms has been extended until early next week to provide additional time for families to complete the necessary paperwork over the long weekend.
Please return all forms by this Tuesday, October 27th.
Printed copies of the Holidays with Heart form were sent home previously with students. Digital copies of these forms are linked below.
Holidays with Heart (and the Specific Student Needs form, if requesting assistance)
Holidays with Heart (Spanish) (and the Specific Student Needs- Spanish form, if requesting assistance)
If you are interested in participating, but are having difficulty accessing the form or
have any questions, please contact Wendy Mitchell, School Counselor, at wmitchell@rockingham.k12.va.us or by calling the school at (540) 289-3004. Thanks!
Other Announcements/Reminders from the MES Office:
2026-2027 MES Student/Parent Handbook- Certain sections, particularly those including new policies or information, will be highlighted in upcoming family updates.
Open this LINK to see events the PTO has planned for this year.
If you need assistance logging in to PowerSchool, please call the office or contact Heather Derrow at hderrow@rockingham.k12.va.us
If you are interested in hearing more about Special Education in RCPS, or even joining the conversation, please see the information about the SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee)
If you are interested in reading more about Family Life Education, please see this link.
The Duke Dog Reading Program has begun! Parents, click HERE to log your child’s completed books on the Duke Dog Reading Completion Form for tabulation by JMU Athletics! Students will have until February 6, 2027 to complete their reading requirements and earn their prizes!
Student participants will be able to earn FREE tickets for the following events:
January 9, 2027 — Women's Basketball vs. Louisiana Tech
January 16, 2027 — Men's Basketball vs. Old Dominion
February 6, 2027 — Women's Basketball vs. MAC Opponent
Thank you for joining the program this year! We look forward to seeing your students at The Atlantic Union Bank Center in the near future!
Activities & Events at MES:
MES Title I Fall Family Engagement Night- October 27 6-7:30PM
Book Character Day- October 30, 2026
November 2 & 3- No School for Students
Parent Teacher Conference Day- November 2 (12-7 PM)
Teacher Inservice Day- November 3 (Election Day)
PTO Meeting (Virtual)- November 7, 7-8PM
MES Veterans Day Assembly- November 11 (9 AM)
House Day #2- November 20, 2026
MES Book Fair- November 30-December 4