The PTA strengthens the community and improves the educational experience at RCF by supporting the families, the students, and the staff through our various initiatives, including:
Enrichment Programs
Rock Creek Forest Elementary hosts enrichment programs throughout the school year. The RCF PTA sponsors many of these programs to ensure parents can provide their children with opportunities to further develop academic, artistic, language, and athletic skills. Learn more at: rcfpta.org/what-we-do/enrichment-programs/.
Cultural Arts
Every year, the PTA brings several assemblies and grade-based workshops (including artists-in-residence, science, drama, writing, and music) to RCF as part of our “Cultural Arts Program”.
Sample/Past PTA funded programs by grade:
- Kindergarten: Maryland Zoo of Baltimore – Critter Visit, including a penguin
- 1st Grade: Mad Science – “Lights, Color…Action”
- 2nd Grade: Paper MOLAS – Discovering the Complexity/Beauty of an Indigenous Panamanian Textile
- 3rd Grade: NOAA – Learning and Experiencing what NOAA does
- 4th Grade: Journey into Native American Territory – Plains/Tipi Program
- 5th Grade: STEM Song – Writing Residency with Mary Amato
Here are some of the inspiring all-school assemblies we’ve shared with our kids:
- Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater – “Cuentos¡” for Pre-K to 2nd grades
- Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater – “Retratos: My People, Myself” for 3rd to 5th grades
- Joe Romano (magician/illusionist) – “Books! The Magic is Real!” for all grades
- STEAM Assembly – Mad Science: “Spectacular Science” for Pre-K to 2nd grades
- STEAM Assembly – Mad Science: “Spin Pop Boom” for 3rd to 5th grades
- Mobile Science Center – Aquatics: “Who Lives in the Wetlands?” for Pre-K to 2nd grades
- Mobile Science Center – Aquatics: “Wetlands in a Pan” for 3rd to 5th grades
*Cultural Arts Program – this is the term used by MCPS to describe the special theater, dance, music, fine arts and science programs that a PTA can bring to a school.)
If you’d like to help bring great Cultural Arts Programs to RCF, please reach out!
C.A.F.E. – Connect, Advocate, Family Voice, Engage
Join us for C.A.F.E. – small, welcoming gatherings where parents can connect with staff, ask questions, and share ideas. These bi-monthly, hour-long sessions are a chance to build community in a relaxed setting with light refreshments and supportive conversation. Each session will include a short, guided topic—led by a school counselor, specialist, or administrator—and time for open dialogue.
C.A.F.E. is for every parent, especially those who prefer smaller, more personal spaces to learn, share, and feel heard. Let’s work together to support our children emotionally and academically.
Other PTA Sponsored Programs
- Extra classroom instructional materials and technology
- New books and resources for the media center
- Community events for families (such as the Fall Festival, Spring Fair, Multicultural Night, the Art and Talent Showcase, Read-a-thon, and Book Fair)
- The RCF Nature Trail
- Grants to teachers for special academic programs and initiatives
- Staff appreciation events and gifts (click here to learn more and volunteer!)
- Public advocacy for school modernization
- Publication of the school directory
Before and After Care by Bar-T
Rock Creek Forest partners with Bar-T to provide child care before and after school located at RCF. For more information, contact Bar-T at Rock Creek Forest: 240-805-4568 or RockCreekForest@bar-t.com.
If you have questions about PTA-sponsored before and after-school activities, contact hello@rcfpta.org.