ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL Weekly UPDATE
August 31, 2023
The Principal's Corner
The Week Ahead
Monday, September 4th
No School-Labor Day
Tuesday, September 5th
Day 3
Wednesday, September 6th
Day 4
Thursday, September 7th
Day 5
School Picture Day
Students will have pictures taken during English classes. For students who have C Block English, students will have their pictures taken either at lunch or during their directed studies. Pictures are taken in the Back Gym.
Friday, September 8th
Day 6
Dates to Remember
September
9/4 No School Labor Day Weekend
9/7 School Picture Day
9/12 Senate Leadership Council Meeting 7:30 AM- 8:00 AM (Library)
9/13 Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
9/16 Saturday School 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
9/21 Early Release for Staff Professional Development @ 11:25 AM
9/26 Site Council Meeting 7:30 AM-8:00 AM (Superintendent’s Conference Room)
9/28 Dog Block 10:42 AM- 11:28 AM
October
10/3 Term 1 Progress Reports Available
10/5 Early Release for Staff Professional Development @ 11:25 AM
10/6 Homecoming Football Game 7:00 PM
10/7 SAT Testing at RHS
10/7 Homecoming Dance 7:00 PM
10/9 No School Columbus Day
10/10 Senate Leadership Council Meeting 7:30 AM- 8:00 PM (Library)
10/11 College Essay Workshop (Time TBA)
10/12 Dog Block 10:42 AM- 11:28 AM
10/14 Saturday School 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM
10/18 PSAT Testing for Grades 10 & 11 (Late start for Grade 9 & 12 students)
10/19 Early Release for Staff Professional Development @ 11:25 AM
10/20 Ask Faculty About College Day
10/25 School Picture Retake Day
10/25 Open House for Grade 8 Class of 2028 6:30-8:30 PM
10/26 Dog Block 10:42 AM- 11:28 AM
10/28 Saturday School 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
10/28 Project Pumpkin 2:00 PM- 4:00 PM
10/31 Site Council Meeting 7:30 AM- 8:00 AM (Superintendent’s Conference Room)
Back to School Night
Below is information regarding Rockland High School's Annual Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians which will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 beginning at 6:30 pm. Back to School Night is an event for parents/guardians; it is a great opportunity for parents/guardians to hear from their child’s teachers on expectations for the upcoming school year. Teachers will speak for eight minutes about course expectations and how their class will be structured for this upcoming school year.
The schedule will be as follows:
6:30-6:45pm: Opening Remarks in Auditorium
6:50-6:58 pm: Period A
7:03-7:11 pm: Period B
7:16-7:24 pm: Period C
7:29-7:37 pm: Period D
7:42-7:50 pm: Period E
7:55-8:03 pm: Period F
8:08-8:16 pm: Period L
It is important you know your child’s schedule, including room locations for each course listed above. If you ask your child to email their schedule to you, our staff can certainly help you navigate throughout the building. Below is a document you can fill out to help guide you through the evening.
Meet the New Staff
- Brett Asselin (Bridges Academy Paraprofessional)
Rockland High School is excited to welcome back Brett Asselin as a Bridges Academy paraprofessional. Brett graduated from the University of Boston with a Bachelor of Arts in American History. He has previously worked at the high school as an academic tutor and last year as a paraprofessional at Rogers Middle School.
- Greg Banks (Bridges Academy Teacher)
Rockland High School is excited to announce Gregory Banks as a Bridges Academy Teacher specializing in History and English classes. Greg graduated from Bridgewater State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Since 2013 Greg Banks has worked as a paraprofessional, long-term substitute teacher, and Remote Learning Teacher at Rogers Middle School. Greg has worked as a job coach in the Transitions Program for the past few years. Greg has also served as an assistant coach on the high school baseball staff and is the head coach for the golf team.
- Manda Buckley (Math Paraprofessional)
Rockland High School welcomes Manda Buckley as a paraprofessional working in Math classrooms. Manda graduated from Bridgewater State University with a bachelor's in psychology. She has previously worked as a Kinder Care Teacher and MTEL Math Tutor.
- Sean Carney (English Teacher)
Rockland High School is excited to welcome Rockland High School alumn Sean Carney back as an English teacher. Sean graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Fitchburg State University, majoring in English studies. He has previously worked the past two years at Cathedral High School in Boston. He will teach English this year.
- Gisele de Araujo (EL Tutor)
Rockland High School is pleased to welcome Gisele de Araujo as the new EL tutor. She will work with students in EL Academic Support and help in inclusion Biology classes. Gisele has previously worked at Mayflower Tax Services and KBS Services and assisted in document translations.
- Kaitlyn Diver (Science Teacher)
Rockland High School is excited to welcome back Kaitlyn Diver, who will be a Physics teacher. Kaitlyn just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Bridgewater State University. She completed her student teaching this spring at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. She will teach College Prep., Honors, and Advanced Placement Physics classes.
- Nick DiRenzo (Science Teacher)
Rockland High School is thrilled to bring over Nick DiRenzo from Rogers Middle School as a Science teacher. An RHS graduate, Nick has taught Grade 8 Science at Rogers Middle School since 2015. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Bridgewater State University and a masters in Education from Fitchburg State University. Nick will teach engineering, Animal Behavior, and Environmental Science.
- Darren Fitzgerald (Paraprofessional)
Rockland High School is excited to welcome Darren Fitzgerald as a paraprofessional, who will work mainly in English classes this year. Darren was hired last year as a paraprofessional at Rogers Middle School. Darren has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama/Theater Arts.
- Melissa Henderson (Paraprofessional)
Rockland High School is excited to welcome Melissa Henderson as a paraprofessional this year. Melissa previously worked as a paraprofessional in the Brockton Public Schools.
- Nikki Kubek (Bridges Academy Teacher)
Rockland High School is excited to introduce Nikki Kubek, who will work as a teacher at Bridges Academy, teaching Math and Science. Nikki Kubek graduated from the College of Saint Rose with a major in education and a concentration in English. Nikki has previously worked as the Center Director at Knowledge Universe, where she hired, trained, and mentored new teachers. She has been a paraprofessional at Rockland High School for the past two years, focusing on working in math classrooms.
- Matthew McGaffigan (Phys. Ed LTS)
Rockland High School welcomes back alum Matthew McGaffigan. Matthew will be a long-term substitute physical education teacher. Matthew graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Studies. He has worked as a substitute teacher for the Amherst Public Schools and Rockland Public Schools.
- Kate McShea (Bridges Academy Teacher)
Rockland High School is happy to introduce Kate McShea, a familiar face from Rogers Middle School. Kate will serve as the Bridges Academy Special Education teacher. She has previously worked at RMS since 2017 as a TLC teacher. Kate received her Bachelor of Arts from Long-Island University and a Masters in Special Education from American International University.
- Digna Nunez (EL Teacher)
Rockland High School is excited to announce Digna Nunez will transition to the role of EL teacher for the upcoming school year. Digna has worked since 2020 as the EL tutor, helping students in Academic Support and general education classes. Digna has a bachelor's degree from Bridgewater State University, majoring in psychology and minoring in criminal justice.
- Guiomar Swartz (WL Teacher)
Rockland High School is pleased to welcome Guiomar Swartz as the new Spanish teacher. Guiomar has a double master's, receiving a master’s degree in education from Spain and a separate master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Guiomar worked previously as a teacher at Boston College and Brookline High School. She will teach Spanish I and Spanish II this year.
- Zackary Taylor (Special Education Teacher)
Rockland High School is excited to announce that Zackary Taylor will be a long-term substitute in Special Education, as a teacher in inclusion science classes this year. Zackary is a certified history teacher, who graduated from Bridgewater State University, majoring in history and education. Zackary has worked as a long-term substitute teacher at Bristol-Plymouth Vocational HS and as a building substitute for Rockland High School last year.
- Danielle Theroux (Bridges Academy Counselor)
Rockland High School welcomes a familiar face, Danielle Theroux, who will serve as the Bridges Academy Counselor. Danielle has worked since 2020 as the counselor for TLC at Rogers Middle School. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her master's in education from Cambridge College.
- Jackie Williams-Pina (Building Substitute Teacher)
Rockland High School is excited to announce that Jackie Williams-Pina will become a building daily substitute. Jackie previously worked at Rogers Middle School as a paraprofessional for the TLC program since 2020. Jackie has a bachelor's degree from Bridgewater State University, majoring in Education.
School Pictures
Lunch Schedule
Freshmen Orientation Held Monday, August 28th
Guidance Notes
Every effort was made to schedule students into electives of their choosing, however it’s not always possible. There will be a 3-day drop/add period for elective changes: Wednesday, August 30th, Thursday, August 31st and Tuesday September 5th.
To request a change, you will need to fill out a Schedule Change Request form in Guidance. Your counselor will see if there are any options available. Please note: We will not accept ELECTIVE change requests after 2:45 on Tuesday, 9/5 and we cannot move academic courses to accommodate an elective change.
For an academic course change, you are not limited to the 3-day drop/add period, but please keep the following in mind:
Your academic courses were scheduled based on teacher recommendations and your student input.
If you are requesting a course level change (example: Honors to College Prep), your counselor will need approval from a parent/guardian.
There is a drop/add form or a course level change form that will need to be completed after the 3-day drop/add period.
Changing an academic course could affect your entire schedule.
Senior Information
We are looking forward to the 2023-2024 school year! There is no denying that this school year is going to be a very important one for you and students. Whether post-high school plans include further education, trade or technical training, employment or military service, we want to encourage you to continue to take an active role in helping your student plan for the future.
Be assured that counselors will do their best to make this a productive and positive year. When students, parents/guardians and school personnel work together toward a common goal, good things happen. Two-way communication is especially important - whether it be through in person meetings, phone calls, emails or virtual meetings.
We will be meeting with seniors frequently regarding their post-high school plans, individually and in classes/groups. We hosted our College Application Boot Camp on August 23rd; we hope it was helpful for attendees. We will hold an evening College Essay review session for seniors on Wednesday, October 11th with college admissions representatives (more details will be shared with students in September).
For parents & guardians - we will host a Financial Aid Night on October 18th (even if you have attended a session in the past, changes in financial aid make it worth your while to attend). We may also host a FAFSA help event in January. This notable change is because the FAFSA will not open for seniors on October 1st as it has been in recent years - it will open in December.
Guidance counselors will be posting information in their Guidance Google classrooms throughout the year, so encourage your student to check it frequently. We hope the following information and resources will be helpful for students and families:
Important Dates for the Class of 2024
RHS Senior General Information
For Students Planning to Apply to a Four-Year College
College Application & Financial Aid Timeline
Who Does What in the College Application Process
For Students considering Trade/Technical/Vocational School, Military, Employment
Scholarships - this Google doc (which will be posted in Seniors Guidance Google classrooms) will be updated frequently as we receive additional scholarship opportunities - check it often!
First Day of School Assembly
Back to School Paperwork
On the first day of school, students received the following handouts in their period A class.
- Parent Contact/Dismissal Card (Pink/Salmon Paper)
- Student Cell Phone Contact Sheet (Blue Paper)
- Technology Sign-Off, Media Release Form, and Student Handbook Contract Sheets (Green Paper)
Please return the first day of school paperwork no later than Tuesday, September 12th.
Student Parking 2023-2024
All students who will be driving to school and parking a car on the Rockland High School campus need to have a registered parking sticker. It is okay to request multiple parking stickers if you switch cars based on the day of the week. As a reminder, student drivers must park in the lot near the Gym and West Entrance.
Steps to Complete Parking Registration:
1. Complete this parking registration form. You must complete this form and receive a new sticker, even if you had one last year.
2. Ms. Penney from the main office will place a parking sticker in your Period A teacher mailbox. It will take a few days to provide you with the pass, so please complete the parking sticker by Tuesday, September 5th.
3. Place the sticker on the driver's side rear side window.
All cars need to have a parking sticker effective Thursday, September 7th. If you get your license and a car during the school year, please see Ms. Penney in the office, who can provide you a parking sticker.
Free & Reduced Price Meals for the 2023-2024 (Application Enclosed)
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We want to update you with exciting news about universal free school meals. Last week the Commonwealth of Massachusetts decided to extend free school meals for all students through the 2023-2024 school year! This means that breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students.
Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is important for families to complete the enclosed Application for Free and Reduced Price meals for the 2023-2024 school year.If you are approved, your family will be eligible for other federal, state and local benefits and reduced program fees. Hard copies are available at each school. If you don’t have access to a printer, you can go to your student’s school and pick one up or call Adele Leonard at 781-871-0541 and request an application be mailed to you.
We have also enclosed information regarding SNAP benefits.
In addition, please consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. More SNAP information can be found at gettingsnap.org or by calling Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
As always, we are grateful for the opportunity to provide nourishing and healthy meals to all Rockland Public Schools students, so please reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Best,
Jane Hackett
Assistant Superintendent
Rockland Walks for Inclusion
How can you help?
Purchase a "Rockland Walks for Inclusion" shirt
Visit our Online Ordering Form and purchase shirts for yourself and your family. All profits from shirt sales will be donated to Special Olympics Massachusetts. Orders will close on Sunday, September 10th.
Register as a Fundraiser!
By registering to walk, you will be added as an official fundraiser. We ask all of those who register to try to raise $10. You do NOT need to register in order to participate in the walk. Click here to register.
Donate
Make an in-kind donation directly to Special Olympics Massachusetts. Click here to donate.
Participate
There are two opportunities to show your support.
On Friday, September 22, Rockland Public Schools will hold a Special Olympics Awareness Spirit Day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear their purchased shirts, or wear red in solidarity with the cause. Members of the community are invited to participate in this as well - town agencies, businesses, families, and friends!
On Saturday, September 23, RHS Student Council is hosting a large event, Rockland Walks for Inclusion, where members of the community will join us in a unified effort of support as we walk Rockland Veterans Memorial Stadium. This is open to the public, and does not require a fee or registration. We ask that you wear red, or wear your purchased shirt. Donation opportunities will be available at the event!
Athletic Updates
Quick Links
Rockland High School
Principal
Email: jharrison@rocklandschools.org
Website: https://www.rocklandschools.org/o/rockland-high
Location: 52 Mackinlay Way, Rockland, MA, USA
Phone: 781-871-0541
Twitter: @RocklandHS