RHS January Newsletter
January 2 , 2022
Happy New Year!
Please welcome our school nurse!
Congratulations to Ms. Kathi Ryan, on her retirement. For the past 28 years, she has worked as a devoted nurse for the Rockland Public Schools. She will be greatly missed.
Midterm Exam Schedule
Midterm exams for all full year and semester courses begin on Friday 1/21 and conclude on Wednesday, 1/26. Term 3 will begin on Thursday, January 27th as a Day 1. In the event that a snow day occurs during the midterm week, everything will get pushed back a day. For instance, a snow day resulting in school cancellation on Friday, January 21st will result in what was previously scheduled on Friday, January 21st to be completed on Monday, January 24th.
Term 2 and midterm grades will be available in the afternoon on Wednesday, February 2nd.
Midterm Guidelines:
Midterm exams will count 10% toward a final course average and be displayed on the report card.
All students for all classes should be in the building for an exam during the midterm exam week, except when they have their scheduled Directed Study, Senior Privilege, or Work-Study.
In between the exam periods is the lunch period. During the lunch period, students will report to a specific class for a directed study (see schedule). Students will have a directed study for this period. Students are not allowed to go to the gym or library on these dates for the directed studies. Students cannot get dismissed for the directed study and then return to school for their afternoon exam.
Students who do not have morning exams because they have an assigned scheduled directed study may arrive at school late for a 11:00 AM start but they are expected to report to the directed study during the lunch period for attendance. Any student arriving after 11:00 AM needs to check-in at the main office for a pass. Students who do not have afternoon exams because they have an assigned scheduled directed study may leave after the lunch period 12:30 PM. In a rare instance, a student who does not have an afternoon exam needs to leave prior to 12:30 PM, a dismissal note is required. No students are allowed to get dismissed and go out to lunch and then return for their afternoon exam.
Students should only be allowed to make-up exams for an excused absence and with permission from an administrator. Students who have received permission will receive a pass from an administrator that they will bring to the teacher and then bring to the make-up exam. Make-up Exams must be taken during the After School Support Program by no later than Tuesday, February 1st. The administrator will communicate to the teacher where and when the student will take the make-up exam in the After School Support Program.
Inside the Classroom
Thank you to the art department for presenting at the school committee meeting on December 9th as part of the curriculum corner. The focus of the presentation was how the department has incorporated Japanese culture into the curriculum. Thank you to the Rockland Education Foundation (REF) for funding this work!
Guidance Information
For Seniors
As we approach the holiday break, we wanted to remind you:
Mid-year grades (at the end of Term 2) will automatically be sent to all colleges in your Naviance list - make sure your list is up to date.
Lastly, make sure to file your FASFA! All students applying to post-secondary education and training (4 and 2-year colleges, community colleges, trade/technical/vocational schools) must complete and file the FAFSA to be eligible for financial aid.
Many of you are likely working on your college applications now. But remember that in addition to getting admitted to college, you also need to pay for college.
We want to highlight what you need to do to apply for financial aid:
Fill out your FAFSA form: The FAFSA form is the federal government financial aid form. To receive need-based grants or scholarships (from the government or your college), you’ll need to file them. We recommend filing the FAFSA as soon as possible.
Check with your colleges to see if they require any additional forms: Some colleges may also require a form called the “CSS Profile” or have their own financial aid forms - these would be in addition to the FAFSA. Make sure you know the deadline for any additional forms.
Scholarship Information
Check out MEFA’s “After you Apply: The Financial Aid Process” resources here.
Check the Financial Aid and Scholarship pages on college websites.
Check the Scholarship Information and Resources doc in your Guidance Google Classroom frequently!
Local Scholarship information will be provided to students in March.
For Juniors
Junior year is a busy one in terms of thinking about and planning for life after high school.
Guidance counselors will be meeting with Juniors in classes soon, and following the classroom visits will be holding individual future planning meetings to discuss post-high school plans.
SAVE THE DATE:
We will be hosting a College Search/College Admissions workshop for Grade 11 parents/guardians on Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30 PM (this presentation will focus on four-year colleges).
Students who are planning to apply to at least one four-year college next year should consider signing up for admissions testing this spring - the SAT, the ACT, or both. While the number of colleges that are test-optional continues to grow, some colleges will still require an SAT or ACT score for admissions and/or merit-based financial aid.
Students on free or reduced lunch may be eligible for an exam fee waiver - they should see their Guidance Counselor PRIOR to registering for an exam.
The following resources will help you/your student register and prepare for tests:
Here are important dates for the Class of 2023.
PSAT Testing Information
Congratulations on taking the PSAT/NMSQT. Your scores should now be available at studentscores.collegeboard.org.
Your score report has valuable information on your area's strengths and areas for improvement. You will also be able to access free, personalized SAT prep through Khan Academy with your PSAT score results - a great resource for Juniors who should be taking their first SAT this spring!
How to Access Your PSAT Scores
If you provided your email address on your answer sheet, you'll receive an email notifying you of when your scores are available. The email will have a unique access code that will connect you to your scores online.
If you didn’t provide an email address on your answer sheet or if the email you provided is incorrect, you will not get an email with an access code. You can get your access code from your Guidance Counselor.
If you haven't set up a College Board account (which you will need to access your scores), you can set one up here.
If your name or other personal information was bubbled incorrectly on your answer sheet, you may still be able to access your scores, but you should correct any errors as soon as possible. You may be able to edit the information in your College Board account. If you can’t, you will need to contact the College Board: 866-433-7728 or psathelp@info.collegeboard.org.
Here is a short video on understanding your score report.
Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Scores - A Parent Tutorial
Additional SAT Prep Resources can be found here.
Details on how to register for the SAT can be found here.
Big Future Scholarship Program for Class of 2023
RHS uses Naviance to help students build a college list and research schools (this is also how we submit admissions documents to colleges). Students can also use the CollegeBoard for some of these steps to be eligible for scholarships.
BigFuture™ Scholarships are open to all students in the class of 2023. Completing one or more of these college planning steps automatically qualifies you for a chance to win $500 and $40,000 scholarships. The sooner you start - and the more steps you complete - the more chances you will have to win.
Here are details on the program.
Here is a timeline for the Class of 2023.
Visit this page to see the college planning steps that qualify students for entries in the monthly drawings.
Fun with Harry Potter!
The Harry Potter Club has been meeting to discuss the books, play games, do crafts and activities related to all things Wizardry. There was a great gathering on December 13th to decorate water bottles and notebooks as well as play some Harry Potter board games. We're working on reading/watching Chamber of Secrets before our next meeting. All are welcome to join! See Ms. Walsh with questions.
Holiday Concerts
- Killing Me Softly With His Song
- This is Me (from The Greatest Showman)
- Razzle Dazzle (from "Chicago")
- That's What Friends Are For
- Silent Night
- Deck The Halls
The following students from RHS Sang:
- Lillian Bossie
- Kaitlyn Brown
- Elias Carbone
- Katelyn Fernandes
- Kelly Hamilton
- Nevaeh Jolliemore
- Allyson Leary
- McKenna Maher
- Lily Meola- Afienko
- Luciana Pumphrey
Students in the Concert Band also did a fantastic job at their Holiday Concert on Thursday, December 16th. Students performed Mia Mamma, African Bell Carol, The Kings of Swing, and Deck the Halls with Chips and Salsa. Below are recordings of the songs if you want to listen!
Students who performed are listed below with their instrument.
Flute
Emma Krog
Emilee Scannell
Clarinet
Olivia Jones
Kathleen Nee
Tenor Saxophone
Adam Stewart
Alto Saxophone
Leah Leonard
Daniel O'Brien
Baritone Saxophone
Mariah Almeida
Trumpet
Logan Hatch
Conor Quackenbush
Baritone
Mia Gomes
Percussion
Khalio Barbosa
Hugo Da Silva
Zac Harrington
James Oliverio
Adam Pollard
Students Excel in Performance of Puffs!
Below is an article written by Hailey Christianson from the RHS Veritas highlighting the fall play Puffs.
Hailey Christianson, Veritas Web Editor
On Friday, December 3, and Saturday, December 4, the RHS Drama Club presented their play Puffs. With Mr. Bergman directing the play, the show was a hit with just under 300 people in attendance.
Puffs is a parody of the Harry Potter books. The main characters are three of the Hufflepuffs who go to Hogwarts with Hannah (Harry) who is played by Leah Leonard. They include Wayne Hopkins, played by Ben Quinn, Megan Jones, played by Allyson Leary, and Oliver Rivers, played by Tri Nguyen. The trio forms a strong friendship as the play covers their seven years at Hogwarts.
McKenna Maher (who plays Leanne) gave some insight on how she thought the play went not only for herself but the whole cast.
“The play was an amazing experience, especially considering it was the first performance with Rockland High School’s new musical director, Steven Bergman. We had a great ensemble cast with many new performers coming into the trade and they learned everything so amazing and I think that we did great. I think that the play, especially considering its fast pace and confusing scene configuration, was a bit difficult to learn but executed well by our cast. Overall, I’m very pleased with the outcome and I can’t wait for the spring musical.”
Mr. Bergman also had some information about not just the play but about the students who performed.
“I was very proud of the work the students did throughout the rehearsal process. Beginning with the initial read through of the script, the students worked every day to become more and more familiar with the lines and the stories that their characters would tell throughout the play. Several of the cast and crew had never participated in a play before, and it was great to watch their progress, and subsequent achievement with their production.”
Of course, being a director is a difficult job considering all that goes into it as Mr. Bergman explained. “I’ve directed many shows, and every production brings different challenges. At the end of the day, figuring out the challenges that a particular show has, from casting to tech week rehearsals, all go into organizing the rehearsal schedule so that the cast and crew feel prepared for their performances.”
Mr. Bergman is now focused on the spring musical which is just around the corner. Auditions were held on December 13 for the musical “Shrek”.
For anyone who is wondering if they can participate, Mr. Bergman says, “Absolutely. Shrek is a very fun musical that has upbeat songs, and tells a wonderful story of acceptance and inclusion. There are many roles for all skill levels, and we don’t have any cuts, so I hope that many students will want to participate.”
Being a part of the RHS Drama Club would be a great experience for anyone who wants to be in any field involving acting, or even being on a crew.
PUFFS TECH CREW:
Karen Araujo
Kaitlyn Brown
Nicole Cedrone
John Goncalves
Corinne Medford
Conor Quackenbush
Melindah Taylor
PUFFS CAST
RHS Student Character
Elias Carbone – J.FINCH FLETCHLEY (+ others)
Kelly Hamilton – SALLY PERKS (+ others)
Victoria Higgins – SUSIE BONES (+ others)
Seth Jesse – CEDRIC and MR. VOLDY
Allyson Leary – MEGAN JONES
Leah Leonard – HANNAH (+ others)
McKenna Maher – LEANNE (+ others)
Gustavo Noguiera – CLUMSY (+ others)
Tri Nguyen – OLIVER RIVERS
Ben Quinn – WAYNE HOPKINS
Joseph Quinn – NARRATOR (+ others)
Zachary Ryan – ERNIE MAC (+ others)
Get ready for Shrek the Musical!
Thank You Mike's Pizza and Students!
Upcoming Events- Save the Date!
Thursday, January 6th- Early Release @ 11:20 AM
Saturday, January 8th- Saturday School 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Wednesday, January 12th- College Admissions Presentation for Junior Parents/Guardians 6:30 PM (Lecture Hall)
Monday, January 17th- No School Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Thursday, January 20th- Early Release @11:20 AM
Friday, January 21st- Wednesday, January 26th- Midterm Exams (Special Schedule)
Thursday, January 27th- Start of Term 3
Bulldog Buddies Hosts Winter Event
IMAGES
RHS Wins Super Bowl!
Here are some of my favorite newspaper clips from the team's journey!
Sports Update
Winter Sports Have Begun!
Top Dog
January Lunch Menu
RHS Clothing Drive (sponsored by Travel Club)
RHS Travel Club is hosting a Clothing Drive as a fundraiser. The funds raised will help support students going to Belize, Greece, Australia and New Zealand, and Italy in 2022 and 2023.
We are collecting clothes from men's, women's, and children's clothes, coats, shoes, scarves, handbags, wallets, fashion accessories, ties, belts, backpacks, Household Textiles, bedding, comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, linen, tablecloths, curtains, pillows, etc.
Please gather clothes and household textiles in bags.
All items must be clean and in sellable condition.
Drop off items on January 22 from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM at the RHS Front Entrance.
Saturday, Jan 22, 2022, 09:00 AM
52 Mackinlay Way, Rockland, MA, USA
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