Frequently Asked Questions

The district transportation team will be updating routes in the coming weeks. Check out their website for your bus route and pick-up or drop-off times. Buses drop off in front of the school in the southwest parking lot at about 8:25 AM, and then students line up out front until the doors open at 8:30 AM. 

• 6th graders enter through the main entrance on the west side of the building.
• 7th graders line up outside of the main doors on the north end of the building as it’s way closer to their lockers and classes.
• 8th graders must use the Activities Entrance by the gym & cafeteria.

Tell your friend we have a bunch of bike racks located at the back of the building, near the southeast corner, and all he has to do is bring his lock. Your buddies who ride skateboards or scooters will “park them” on the wall-mounted rack in the front lobby or the standing rack in the rear of the building right next to the bike racks...all they have to do is bring their locks.

If their boards or scooters are small enough to fit in their lockers, that works too, but everyone needs to be aware that we do NOT have any additional storage space for bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or longboards in the building. When the rack in the lobby is full all ‘wheels’ must be locked at the outside racks. 

The northwest parking lot is for student drop-off and pick-up. There are two lanes for drop-off each​ morning. The outside lane runs alongside the sidewalk​ and the inside lane runs into the parking lot ​drop-off area. If you are in the inside lane, DO NOT get out of the car until it has stopped in the parking lot ​at the designated drop-off area​ then proceed to the crosswalk​. Please ​​do not get out early or walk between cars ​in the outside lane---it is VERY dangerous. If your parent or guardian is in the outside lane, please tell them to drive the car as far as they can until they reach the next car in line or the sign that says STOP HERE. Once the car is stopped, you may exit safely onto the sidewalk from the passenger side of the car.

In the afternoon your parent or guardian can pick you up by parking in the northwest parking lot or along the outside lane closest to the sidewalk. Remember to use the crosswalk if you are going into the parking lot to be picked up. ​They could also drop you off and pick you up in the parking lot to the south of the school by the baseball fields​ if the northwest lot is too busy. This is also a GREAT option if your parents need to travel south on York after drop off as they are NOT permitted to make a left turn out of our northwest parking lot.

Because the southwest lot is our designated bus lane and staff parking area, there is NO student drop off or pick up there. Please remind your parents to be polite and patient until everyone gets in the groove of a new school year! 

Per Superintendent Policy, all staff and students are required to wear photo identification while on school grounds. You will be issued a 2024-2025 ID, protective case, and lanyard at the time school pictures are taken 

Important Notes and Information 

• These IDs are important and will be used as bus passes once they are issued, and for student tracking on field trips.  

• IDs will also be used for the library, lunch, and breakfast which also provides the context for the importance of these IDs. Please emphasize all these points of importance to your students. 

• Students should keep their IDs over the summer so they can be used until new universal IDs can be issued at the start of the next school year.

The easiest way to get started is to visit the Parent Portal and then follow the directions to establish a new account. You’re also welcome to visit our main office during Day Hike Through Grizzly Country or Back to School Night. Once you get your activation key from the staff here, you and your family will be set to check daily assignments, attendance, and grades as well as receive messages from teachers. Depending on interest we may provide family workshops, designed to orient folks to all the technology they’ll need to keep track of school life. Watch News from The Top for more information in the coming weeks. 

Depending on interest we may provide family workshops, designed to orient folks to all the technology they’ll need to keep track of school life. Watch News from The Top for more information in the coming weeks. 

School runs from 8:40 AM - 3:50 PM every day. Our school-wide Bear Necessities class noted as 0-BN/Personal Development on your schedule, is dedicated to social-emotional wellness. Through this class, all students will acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. This class will also be used as an opportunity to set school-wide expectations. This class will happen as needed throughout the year.  

Rocky Top offers over 25 before and/or after-school clubs, use this link to access the complete list. We will be checking with sponsors to confirm they will still be offering these clubs and may also add clubs with new sponsors. There’s no cost to participate in most clubs; you just have to get any permission forms signed and then arrange for your transportation. If you’d like to shop the co-curricular options, be sure to attend our annual Clubs & Activities Fair (parents welcome too!) August 28th from 4pm to 5pm. Watch News from The Top for more information in the coming weeks. 

We also offer a variety of sports at Rocky Top. Sports are offered to all 7th and 8th grade students and last approximately 8 weeks per season. We will offer some form of intramural sports for 6th-grade students that will last approximately 6 weeks per sport (more information to come). Please look to NFTT or check out our sports website page for more information. Also, feel free to reach out to our Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Brian Shanahan with additional questions.

Each grade level has a separate 30 minute lunch. Though it may take a little longer to make it through the line the first few days as everyone tries to remember their lunch numbers, you will have time to eat AND play!

Feel free to pack your lunch and leave it in your locker until the appropriate time.

Each student in Colorado is allowed to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch per school day. Extra entrees, snacks, or milk (without the full meal) are still able to be purchased. Despite free meals for students, it is still VERY IMPORTANT for you to complete the Free and Reduced Benefits Application if you think your family may qualify.  You must apply each year to receive benefits. Please fill out THIS application for Free and Reduced lunch. If you have trouble understanding the form, please reach out to Adams 12 Nutrition Services (720-972-4123) or your student’s grade level counselor.

Breakfast at Rocky Top: 
Breakfast will begin at 8:10 AM every day. 

• Students who will be taking advantage of breakfast should enter through the Cafeteria doors near the outdoor basketball courts (South side of the building). 
• Students must enter the building before 8:30 AM to have time to enjoy their breakfast. 
• Students will also need their IDs to access their free breakfast. 

Advantages of completing and qualifying for Free and Reduced Benefits include:

• Rocky Top can receive additional funding 
• School fees can be waived or reduced. 
• Students in grades 9-12 can receive assistance with post-graduation planning, scholarships, state and national testing
• Families can qualify for additional resources, such as medical, food and cash assistance.
• Families can receive support with community services, such as internet, gym memberships, passes to museums and cultural events.
• Please click here for the application and additional information.

When you finish eating lunch, you’ll clean up your table and dispose of your trash.  Then head outside to the blacktop area for basketball, 4 square, tetherball, or jump roping. Walk just around the corner for wall ball or out to the field for touch football, a small soccer game or just to hang out in the grass under a shade canopy.

First, regardless of assignments from individual teachers, all students should be reading for 30 minutes every evening. In addition to that, Rocky Top teachers assign homework only when you need to practice skills, elaborate on something introduced in class or to prepare for upcoming units of study. You’ll use your Gmail calendar (access provided through Adams 12 student accounts) to keep track of all assignments, but you can also access the information through your teacher’s Schoology page. 

As far as the amount of homework goes, you may have up to 10 minutes per grade level…that means 6th graders might have 60 minutes of homework per night, 7th graders 70 minutes, and 8th graders 80 minutes. You may also have additional homework/practice if you’re learning an instrument or a foreign language. However, no homework will be due on Mondays or after long breaks*, so you’ll still have time for a social life! (*Long-term projects are the only exception to this policy.)

There is no before and after school program at the middle school level in Adams 12.  Our Grizzly staff is present to supervise beginning at 8:20 AM so students are welcome to hang out on campus until the bell rings at 8:30 AM.  Dress appropriately for chilly mornings; if it’s below 20°, raining, or snowing we open the cafeteria with supervision at 8:20 AM and you can wait in there until the first bell. Our library is also open nearly every morning at 8:20 AM to return or check out a book, or play a quiet round of chess (limit of 15 students). Finally, there are clubs offered nearly every day before or after school. For students that will be eating breakfast, those students will enter through the south cafeteria entrance.

Teachers offer study sessions before and after school; check the syllabus for a daily schedule. If you need further explanation of a concept, extra study time for an assessment, help on some homework, or to retake a test, just CONFIRM AHEAD OF TIME that the teacher will be present at the regularly scheduled time. Remember, when you stay for an after-school study session you must arrange for your transportation.

First, have your parent or guardian call the attendance line, 720.972.2337, to leave a message notifying us that you are not coming to school. If your family forgets to call, our office staff will call numbers from your approved contacts list until we reach someone just to be sure you are safe. Next, when you feel well enough, just get online to your teachers’ Schoology pages. Anything you need to know will be listed there. You may also email your teachers---they’re great about letting you know what you missed and you’ve got an extra day to get stuff turned in after you’re back. Be aware, it is advisable to attend help sessions with teachers upon your return!

Unfortunately, you may be scheduled into classes you did not request. Classes are sometimes full, the class you requested doesn’t fit into your schedule properly or the class you requested is not offered any longer. Therefore, we cannot guarantee a schedule change.

We are excited to welcome so many Grizzlies to Rocky Top this year. Due to our high enrollment numbers, elective change requests will be extremely limited this year. If your student notices a problem (double booked class or a missing class), please fill out this Class Change Request form in the front office or send it electronically to our registrar, Susan Weiss (wei018392@adams12.org). Schedule change requests will only be considered for the first 5 school days of the quarter. As a reminder, we do not consider any requests for changing core class teacher or placement. If you notice that your student has an elective gap in their schedule for quarters 2, 3 or 4 please know that we will work to fill those before that time. For videos to support you with accessing IC, please view our Infinite Campus How-Tos linked HERE.

Rocky Top PE shirts are available for purchase through your PE teachers when you enter that class or during Back to School Night. The required shirts are $8.00 (waived if you qualify for Free or Reduced Benefits) but you may wear your athletic shorts, leggings, or sweats (must meet the dress code) and tennis shoes that tie securely to the foot.  Students will not be required to change undergarments, pants/shorts, or shoes as long as they are appropriate for athletic activities. 

For Band and Orchestra, your friend will have to provide her instrument. Tell her not to panic though, her teacher will provide purchasing and rental information during the first week of class. You may also want to let that friend know that, in an attempt to balance musical sections, she may not be assigned her first choice of instrument so be open to the teacher’s suggestions!

Beginning in August 2021, the district took on the responsibility of providing all Five Star students in grades K-12 with a district-managed Chromebook for immediate use. Students in 3rd through 12th grade are expected to bring their devices to and from school each day, charged and ready to go. Throughout the school year, if your device gives you trouble, be sure to make time to stop by the library before school. If our tech crew can’t get your Chromebook up and running, they’ll swap it out for a different Chromebook so you can get right back into class. All information regarding Chromebooks including student and family expectations and commitments can be found by following the link here. 

Important Documents and Information regarding Chromebooks click here.

The insurance premium is $20 per student, or $10 for students who have qualified for reduced-price lunches. It is free for students who have qualified for free lunches. Please click here to apply for Free and Reduced Benefits.

You will have a BLAST as a Grizzly! With almost 1100 students from at least 4 different elementary schools, you’re sure to make new friends daily. Our phenomenal counseling team will be introducing themselves to you throughout the first few weeks of school and you’ll find they are great resources for ANY stress you may experience. Be open to meeting new people, flexible as old friends shift to new peer groups, and know that you are now part of the most exceptional middle school in all of Colorado.