The Rocket Glare
Keeping RCHS Students, Families, & Staff Connected!
Volume 1, Issue 7: Friday, January 29th
Principal's Message
Principal: Mr. J.D. Bussell
Email: James.bussell@rockcastle.kyschools.us
January 29th, 2021
RCHS Students & Parents,
Greetings from The Rock!
Picture Day February 3rd & 4th
Wednesday, February 3rd will be our Picture day for Red Group students.
· 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM MyRock Online Picture Opportunity 1
· 12:15 - 2:15 PM Red In-Person Students
My Rock Online students will enter through the BACK Doors and meet Ms. Joanie and YB Staff at the Check-In table. Temperatures WILL be taken. Masks must be worn at all times (until photo is taken). Students will answer questions and complete a health screening.
This may be the ONLY opportunity that students have to be in the 2020-21 RCHS Yearbook and the ONLY opportunity that seniors will have for portraits. There WILL NOT be a retake day. The only photo times are those listed above.
Thursday, February 4th will be our Picture day for Blue Group students.
· 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Blue In-Person Student Picture Day
· 12:15 - 2:15 PM My Rock Online Picture Opportunity 2
*MRO SENIORS will also have the opportunity to sign the Senior Signature Page for the Yearbook during this time. This is their ONLY opportunity to do so.
Report Cards
Report cards will be available on February 3rd & 4th. Each student will receive a copy of his/her report card when they come to take their picture.
Friday NTI Days
Remember that students can contact teachers and schedule times to come to RCHS on Friday NTI Days. Simply email or message the teacher through Google Classroom and discuss a time that works. All students will receive lunch as well. If you can’t come in the building, ask for a possible Google Meet.
Student Email
Continue to check your email every single morning and even multiple times throughout the day. You will be receiving information about our school calendar, your classes, assignments & events at RCHS. Stay involved in daily communication with your teachers!
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
I encourage all parents to check your child’s grades on IC Parent Portal regularly. Because we have been unable to physically send home report cards, it is imperative that parents check grades online. You can go the link: https://kyede11.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/rockcastle.jsp and if you have issues logging on, email Ms. Sherri McKinney: sherri.mckinney@rockcastle.kyschools.us or call RCHS for login information.
Be safe & please contact me at RCHS if I can be of service.
J.D. Bussell
RCHS Principal
Guidance Counselors' Corner
Guidance Counselors: Mrs. Amy Lewis & Mrs. Casey Harper
Email: Amy.lewis@rockcastle.kyschools.us / casey.harper@rockcastle.kyschools.us
Seniors--If you need help with your FAFSA, please contact us! We can work with you via Google Meet or a phone conference! Email us to schedule a time!
Seniors: Complete your FAFSA
Be sure to check the Senior website for scholarships recently posted. Also, college applications should be in progress. If you have not applied and need help or have any questions, please see Mrs. Casey Harper or Ms. Amy Lewis.
The RCHS Guidance Counselors are available to speak with students regarding any issue that you may be struggling with. Send them an email to schedule a time to talk.
Still Happening: RCHS ACT Workshop!
Please see the attached flyer for more information. Sessions will take place via Google Classroom. Please refer to the meet code on the flyer!
Click HERE to access the informational flyer!
Rock Athletics
RCHS Athletic Director: Mr. Mike McNabb
Email: mike.mcnabb@rockcastle.kyschools.us
Football offseason Weightlifting and Conditioning has started. Players are lifting in small groups at various times. Anyone interested in playing Football should contact Coach Parkey as soon as possible. You will be placed in a group specific to your transportation needs.
Girls Basketball Schedule
1/29/21--Girls v Tates Creek JV/V @ TCHS 6pm JV start time
2/2/21 -- Girls v South Laurel @ RCHS 6PM JV/V start time
2/6/21--Girls v Casey County JV/V @ RCHS 12pm JV start time
Cancelled Games
1/30/21--Boys F-men
2/1/21--Boys v Bell County @ RCHS
Game Changes:
1/30/21--Girls opponent will be Belfry (not Bullitt East)
*Senior night date tentatively for the Lady Rockets will be 2/4.
Notes from the Book Cart - RCHS Library Updates
Library Media Specialist: Ms. Joanie Alexander
Email: Joanie.alexander@rockcastle.kyschools.us
RCHS Library Website
Click HERE to access!
Book Checkouts
The RCHS Library continues to offer a digital platform where students can read 30+ top picked and NEW texts that rotate every 60-90 days. Every RCHS student has their own account where they can bookmark, highlight, etc. To access this, visit the RCHS Library Website and then go to Student Resources OR Checkouts to access the JLG Dashboard! Make sure to login to your individual account for more access! If you have questions or your account login doesn't work, please contact Ms. Joanie.
Concierge Checkout Service
Students may request books using the Google Form (Click HERE) or by emailing Ms. Joanie. Please use the form or email and include the title and author. Once requested, Ms. Joanie will have the book ready and will deliver to English classes on Wednesday and Thursday of each week! If you need a book before those days, email Ms. Joanie!
RCHS Writing Center
The RCHS Library Writing Center aims to help students find their writing voice and tackle various writing and interview challenges. The writing center is able to help with revisions/editing, job applications and interviews, resumes, and college applications and essays. During NTI instruction, appointments will take place via Google Meet. To schedule an appointment, click HERE!
Classroom Spotlight: A.P. Chemistry with Mrs. Morgan Taylor
In Mrs. Taylor's AP Chemistry and Chemistry classes this week, students have been working on completing labs to help reinforce the topics they’ve been covering in class the last couple of weeks. In AP Chemistry, students have been studying types of chemical reactions, and have worked on conducting a chemical reaction, filtering and collecting the product, then determining the amount of product that was actually made in their lab in order to compare this amount with their predicted calculated amount before the experiment. In Chemistry I, students have been studying electron organization and the patterns that exist on the periodic table. This week students have been investigating how soluble the elements in Column 2 are when reacting with other compounds, and using the pattern they see in this lab to identify an unknown compound. Mrs. Taylor is so proud of how hard students have been working in a very different school experience than they are used to. "I am so excited to have them back in person so we can complete as many lab activities as possible because I think that’s what really helps students grasp the harder concepts in chemistry," shares Mrs. Taylor.
We appreciate your dedication to RCHS Students, Mrs. Taylor!
Students participate in Chemistry Lab in AP Chemistry.
Studying Chemical Reactions!
Hands on Learning in Science!
Student Council Announcements
- The RCHS Student Council would like to remind all that ACT workshops are every Friday at 11:00 and 1:00
- Student Council is currently making plans for homecoming and it WILL be held in the month of February. The tentative date for RCHS Homecoming will be February 15th. More details will be coming soon!
RCHS Yearbook and Picture Day Information
Yearbooks are $60. Sales are 100% online this school year. To purchase a YB , click HERE.
Senior Ads
Senior ads for the RCHS Yearbook are still available. Please see the flyer linked below for more information. Click HERE to register for a senior ad.
Picture Day: Underclassmen & Senior Portraits
Picture day has been rescheduled for February 3rd and 4th. Please click HERE for the picture day schedule. Please pay special attention to dates for in-person students AND for MyRock Online students.
Yearbook Instagram
@rockcastlehs_yearbook
Check the Yearbook instagram regularly for important updates!
Senior Signatures
The senior signature page for the yearbook is currently being compiled. Please look for the YB staff table at lunch, stop by the library and see Ms. Joanie, or prepare to sign when you come in for picture day in February (best option for MRO students).
RCHS Youth Service Center
7:30 AM-3:30 P.M. (Other hours available by appointment)
Coordinator: Jessie Mahaffey
Program Assistant II: Barbara Mullins
What is a YSC?
· A Youth Service Center mission is to enhance the students’ abilities to succeed in school.
Who can use the YSC?
· All students enrolled in our high school, their families, teachers, and the community!
What services does RCHS YSC provide?
· Clothing assistance
· Food assistance
· Referrals to physical & mental health agencies, and social services
· Hygiene assistance
· Thanksgiving food basket
· Holiday assistance
· School supplies
· In school dental visits
· Other needs determined by families and community
The Rockcastle County Youth Service Center is open to serve all students and families of Rockcastle County High School. Families & students are always welcome in our center! A student can refer himself to YSC, a parent, staff member, or someone in the community may contact the YSC to assist a student, and/or family of the student.
About Us
Assistant Principal & Athletic Director: Mr. Mike McNabb
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Becky Smith
Guidance Counselors: Mrs. Amy Lewis & Mrs. Casey Harper
Library Media Specialist: Ms. Joanie Alexander
Email: james.bussell@rockcastle.kyschools.us
Website: http://rockcastle.kyschools.us/rchs/
Location: 1545 Lake Cumberland Road P.O. Box 1410 Mt. Vernon, Kentucky 40456
Phone: (606) 256-4816