RRHS Update Week of 3/7/22
School Counseling News!
Juniors
Please watch this to learn about the application process,scheduling for next year and setting up your Junior appointment for March. Click Here:
Click here to set up your Rising Senior Appointment to plan for Senior year and beyond.
Start now applying to college for next year by working on your essays. Here are the Common App essay prompts for 2022 applications. Click here
Scheduling
For all scheduling information please visit the Counseling Scheduling site . Here is the direct link to the Course Request Change website.
Seniors
Many colleges are still accepting applications. Here is a list of colleges with rolling or late admission deadlines. Seniors if you have received acceptance letters please share them with Mrs. Barnes.
Please check Mrs. Barnes’ Friday e-mail/Smore for more Counseling information. Seniors, there are 90 scholarships listed in Naviance please see her newsletter with directions on how to access them. https://www.smore.com/9vk7h
SAVE THE DATE
Our annual Summer/PT Job Fair will be March 14th. We will have lots of businesses and organization to meet and not just for jobs. Volunteer and internships will also be available. You can see which businesses are coming here. This page will update as more sign up
Academy Day 2022
Attendees will have the opportunity to join breakout sessions with representatives from the United States service academies for presentations and an interactive question and answer period.
Save the Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Invitation to follow. To ensure you receive it and the registration link for the event, please email academy_noms@warner.senate.gov. For more information on the Academy Nomination Process, please visit www.warner.senate.gov.
Summer Programs
Click here to view many national and Virginia specific enrichment opportunities. Opportunities include programs with business, journalism, STEM, performing arts, research opportunities and more.
Another Rock Ridge 1st
Congrats to Zane Hedrick who officially signed his scholarship with the Virginia FAME program at RBC of William & Mary. He is the 1st in our region to receive this honor. Zane will be attending RBC of William & Mary 2 days a week and interning at EPT USA 3 days a week. Zane is one of select few in Virginia who will be learning advance robitcs, engineering and Hi-Tech manufacturing all while being part of this paid internship program. Zane’s tuition will also be covered. Essentially, he will be paid to attend college and have an expansive resume with this international company. The FAME program has internship available ranging from Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals to advance Hi Tech Manufacturing. Juniors if you are interested in this type of STEM work please contact Dr. Thomas Midgette. The process involves several interviews at Hi Tech firms, so getting started in your junior year gives you time to explore all of these companies. So the next time you remotely start your car from a keyfob or the internet, thank Zane. He will be one of the many who made that possible.
Thomas Midgette, Ed.S.
Program Director of FAME
(Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary
Office: 804-862-6100 ext. 6256
Career Center!
This Week in Athletics!
Monday March 7th
Girls Lacrosse @ Annandale, 7 p.m. Bus departs at 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday March 8th
Girls Tennis vs. Millbrook, 4:30 p.m. or ASAP when they arrive.
Boys Tennis @ Millbrook, 4:30 p.m. or ASAP. Early Release at 2:30 p.m. Bus departs at 2:45 p.m.
Varsity Softball @ Millbrook, 5 p.m. Early Release at 2:30 p.m. Bus departs at 2:45 p.m.
Varsity Baseball @ Millbrook, 7 p.m. Bus departs at 4:15 p.m.
JV/Varsity Boys Soccer @ Millbrook, 5:30/7:00 p.m. Early Release at 3:15 p.m. Bus departs at 3:30 p.m.
Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Millbrook, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday March 10th
Varsity Girls/Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Manassas Park, 6/7:30 p.m.
Math Help!
Students can get help with their homework from math teachers and tutors during their study hall - request a pass from your math teacher.
In addition to the math help offered during every study hall block, our Math Department is also offering help for Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 students after school each week.
· Algebra 1 students can get help every Thursday in room 1208 after school until 5 PM.
· Geometry students can get help every Thursday in room 1213 after school until 5 PM.
· Algebra 2 students can get help every Monday in room 1211 until 5 PM.
No pass or reservation is required – just come with your notes, homework and questions!
Please see your math teacher if you have any questions about getting extra help during your study hall or after school.
AP Testing!
AP Exams
The final date to make any changes to your AP exam schedule is next Friday, March 11th. Changes that are made after 4 PM on this date, will not be applied to your AP exam schedule.
This is the last date where exams can be added or dropped (with a $40 late fee, per exam). Exams greater than (4) must be paid for by this date or they will not be ordered. Students who owe exam fees have been contacted via email on several occasions. If you have any questions about your exam order, or about fees that your student may owe, you should contact Mrs. Blessing, our AP Coordinator, ASAP at kathryn.blessing@lcps.org
Senior Fees!
Students need to complete their Senior Fee payments as soon as possible. Caps and Gowns will be distributed to those who have completed this obligation in mid-April. This will give students an opportunity to decorate their caps before Decision Day Breakfast on 5/6/2022.
The $80 Fee can be paid at the Payment Portal with an option to donate $20 to those unable to pay the full amount.
If you are experiencing financial hardship please contact nevein.zalenski@lcps.org our Parent Liaison or liz.grainger@lcps.org so that we can explore ways in which we can help you and your student.
Seal of Biliteracy
Seal of Biliteracy Opportunity
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award for graduating seniors that acknowledges proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. Beyond the intellectual, personal, and social benefits of pursuing a multilingual education, the Seal provides individuals with a State-recognized credential that will allow them to stand out in the eyes of universities and employers. The State’s Seal is placed on the students’ diploma upon graduation, in addition to being recognized at the Senior Awards Ceremony
The Seal of Biliteracy is provided to students upon receiving a qualifying score on either the Credit Through Testing (offered in the fall by LCPS) exam or completion of another qualifying exam (spring).
This year, the AAPPL Exam will be offered to interested students in grades 10, 11 and 12.
The AAPPL is offered in the following languages:
Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.
ASL: This year, the SLPI: ASL will be offered. Please check this option on the registration form.
Latin: This year, the ALIRA will be offered. Please check this option on the registration form.
If you do not see your language listed, there is most likely still a test available for you. Please contact WLC Department Chair Wesleigh Mellott (wmellott@lcps.org) so that an appropriate test can be arranged.
Testing Window: March 28-March 31, after school
Testing Location: L205
Cost:
AAPPL: 20
Other exams: varies
Registration deadline: March 21, 2022
For more information: https://www.lcps.org/Page/183719
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenNTfHkHs5ZRkqdVY9T81QvrPqSx457Or59aSZb6EaK0j6pQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
After registration, you will be contacted with the test price and instructions on how to pay. No tests will be administered until payment is complete.
Yearbooks - Buy it NOW!
YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW- OVER 60% ARE SOLD- FEWER THAN 200 BOOKS ARE LEFT! PRICE GOES UP 3/16
Save money and buy your yearbook now! They are on sale for $75. They can be purchased online at www.yearbookforever.com The price will go up to $80 on 3/16 and then to $85 in May. Buying now and reserving your copy is the ONLY way to guarantee you get a yearbook. Once the books are gone, they’re gone- we cannot order more.
PTSO News!
CELEBRATING SENIORS!
The PTSO is immensely proud of the hard work and efforts of our Senior Class of 2022!
RRHS PTSO Senior Scholarships – now open!
· There are four categories and seniors may apply for any or all of the scholarships:
o Academic Excellence
o Character
o Community
o The Phoenix
· Applications may be printed from Naviance or can be picked up in the Career Center hallway.
· Seniors or their family must be a member of the PTSO as of April 1, 2022 to apply. To join the PTSO, go here. (Kindly disregard the raffle info from the membership drive at the start of the schoolyear.)
Graduation Signs – Coming Soon!
· The PTSO will be selling signs to honor our Senior Class of 2022!
· Funds raised from the sale of signs will support the Senior graduation celebration.
· Options will be available to purchase a personalized sign honoring a Senior by name or the entire Class of 2022.
· Order details expected within the next week as we finalize payment options.
· See below for a preview of the finalized signs.
Graduation Flowers – Coming Soon!
· The PTSO will be selling flowers to give to your special Senior on graduation!
· With graduation being so early this year - Seniors arrive by 7:30 AM and graduation takes place at 9 AM on Thursday, June 16th – let us make it easier for you!
· Order your flowers in advance and pick up onsite at Rock Ridge as you go into graduation rather than making an extra stop along the way.
· Order details coming soon!
Senior Celebration – Summer Splash Beach Party!
· The PTSO will be hosting a fun and exciting graduation celebration for the entire senior class open to ALL seniors at NO cost (FREE) following graduation rehearsal on Wednesday, June 15th.
· The event will be held outdoors at the school with a DJ, yard games, yearbook signing area, photo station, and much more! More details coming soon!
· The PTSO wishes to especially thank Hilary Schubert for serving as the Senior Events Coordinator on behalf of the PTSO with additional support by Linda Cooper and Ellen Buermeyer! We appreciate your efforts to make this event as special as our Senior Class deserves! ROCK STRONG!
COURTYARD TRANSFORMATION PROJECT
· Sadly we just learned that the grant we applied for through Home Depot to allow us to fully implement and install pavers and a raised platform has fallen through.
· Home Depot changed their corporate policies last week and no longer allow funding of straight product grants solely for supplies.
· As you can imagine, we are disappointed but understand that things change beyond our control and remain appreciative of Home Depot’s continued willingness to work with us in some capacity.
· We also had a local owner of a landscape company who had been willing to help design a plan to beautify the front entrance to the school have to rescind their offer.
· The impact from COVID has hit business and families in considerable ways and many are still recovering. We have seen supply chains impacted and costs increase as a result.
· In light of this unexpected turn of events, we are regrouping and reevaluating how to best go about the next phase of this project.
· The PTSO remains committed to see this project through although it may occur slower than originally hoped.
· We value the commitment YOU, our PTSO membership, has made towards this endeavor and will continue to keep you updated as we value accountability, transparency, and being good stewards of the funds raised and entrusted to us in support of this special project.
· Please feel free to reach out with any questions, ideas, or suggestions as we welcome all and are in this TOGETHER! Email: Tiffany Ahmed, PTSO President at president@rrhsptso.org .