Rockwall High School Jacket Notes
September 7, 2020
Jacket Nation
I hope this finds you enjoying the Labor Day Holiday. This newsletter is a little longer than normal but there is a lot of information we are making sure you have access to. We encourage our students to communicate with their teachers and ask questions or solicit support when needed. We have included our comprehensive tutoring schedule in this week's newsletter. Please use "control F" to search the document for each teacher's tutoring times. You may view the tutoring schedule on our web-page as well.
Now that we have completed 1 1/2 weeks of school please make sure you are communicating with teachers as needed, should questions arise. I am not sure what our in-person students are saying, but I feel like we have set up an environment that supports keeping everyone safe and social distanced as much as possible. I 100% support parents keeping their students remote, but also know we want your students to come for in-person instruction when they are ready. Please be looking for communication to come about making changes to your student's instructional selection. (Remote vs. In-Person) Remember changing from remote to in-person instruction may be done 2 weeks prior to the end of the 9 weeks.
Our staff have been working hard to make school as normal as possible, but obviously there are challenges. Just like we ask you for grace and patience we are providing the same to our kids. Please make sure that you are openly communicating to our teachers and staff.
We are striving to be the best and we value your feedback. Even if it to say thank you or have you thought of....
We are all in this together.
And remember, No Matter What, Jacket Fight Never Dies!
Kevin Samples
Principal
Rockwall High School
Tomorrow is a "B" Day
Alpha A-K are in Person-Tuesday & Wednesday
Picture Information
Picture Day Information:
Due to the hybrid schedule, we will have Picture WEEK September 14-18. Mark your calendars and make sure your student is camera ready! All in-person learners will take photos during their in-person English classes. For all remote learners, you may come anytime 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on any day of the week. Even though that Wednesday is a remote learning day, we will have the campus open to photograph remote learners.
We do not want anyone excluded from the yearbook. Because remote learners are not going to classes, we ask that you go to the back of the school and enter through the theater door that will be propped open. Do NOT come to the front and walk through the building. You will go in the theater, take a picture and leave campus immediately. This is not an opportunity to roam the halls or socialize.
For 9-11 graders this is their official yearbook portrait. For seniors, it is the ID badge image only. Students will receive information on purchasing next week. Please send payment with your student and tell them to carry it to the camera where Lifetouch will collect it. The yearbook staff does not handle payment or order forms. You may purchase your photos online through Lifetouch’s website. If your student is absent, there WILL be a retake day in October.
Should you have any concerns about Picture Day, please email jessica.applegate@rockwallisd.org
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK:
Purchase your 2021 yearbook with one line of personalization and get FOUR FREE ICONS until September 18. This special offer for the free icons is only available if you purchase one line of personalization. You may pay by credit card at jostensyearbooks.com, cash or check (payable to RHS). You may pick up an order form at the front desk and send payment to Mrs. Applegate in room 2406 during 2nd period only. If you have any questions, please email jessica.applegate@rockwallisd.org
PTA Information
PTA-Please join!!
Join PTA!
We need you! Join us in supporting our teachers/staff and advocating for our students. Your membership is especially important this year!! Visit https://www.joinpta.org to sign up today.
RHS Online Store
Calling all Yellowjacket fans! Time to shop for Rockwall High School spirit wear! Check out our online store for face masks, yard signs, and shirts! All items are unisex. Be sure to enter code RHS PTA before checkout so that proceeds from your purchase will go toward RHS. https://shopallsportsusa.com/collections/rockwall-high-school/RHS-PTA
AmazonSmile
Before placing your next Amazon order, please shop through https://smile.amazon.com and select 7843 Rockwall High PTA so that our school can benefit from your purchases at no additional cost to you!
August HIVE Award Winner
They were smiling under their masks.
Virtual College Night
· Please use the following link to register for the upcoming Rockwall ISD Virtual College Night on September 14.
· This virtual event begins at 6pm and concludes at 8pm.
· IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED, PLEASE REGISTER AGAIN USING THE FOLLOWING LINK. IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU ARE NOT ACCURATELY REGISTERED IF DID SO BEFORE THIS MESSAGE.
· This event is completely virtual and can be accessed from any device connected to the internet.
· To register, use this link: https://falltacrao.swoogo.com/2020virtual/begin
2021 Seniors
Letter for Senior Students
· Wow, these last three years have flown by and here we are preparing for your Senior year. Since we can’t have our Senior 2021 conferences in person, we are going to put everything you need to know to start off your Senior year in the passport below. Please remember you can always reach out to your counselor if you have any questions or if there is anything at all we can help with through the year. Our RHS counseling website is a great resource to find important information https://www.rockwallisd.com/domain/160 and we also recommend you saving this email so you can refer back to it through your Senior year!
· Now, let’s take a look at your specific high school transcript attached. Anything marked in the box on your transcript you still need credit for to graduate and you MUST be enrolled in this year. If you are not enrolled in all of these classes listed in the box, you need to reply to this email ASAP so we can get your schedule adjusted. As a reminder, a list of graduation requirements can be found on page 8 of our Academic Planning Guide here: https://www.rockwallisd.com/cms/lib3/TX02215269/Centricity/Domain/658/APG%202020-2021A.pdf
· Diploma Verification – Your full legal name will be printed on your diploma. The legal name we have on file can be found on your attached transcript in the upper right corner above your ID number. If your name is not listed correctly (example you need to add a Jr., IV, etc. to your name) please reply to this email with the full name you would like printed on your diploma.
· ACT/SAT – Most colleges and universities are not requiring these for class of 2021 for admissions or scholarships. Please check with the universities you plan on attending if they are still requiring these admissions exams. You can register for SAT and ACT through their websites. SAT - https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register ACT - https://www.act.org/
· Requesting a transcript – You can complete the attached form and return with $5 per transcript or you can request it online through Parchment here https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/23883/account. All questions regarding transcripts can go through our school registrar, Christin Allgood.
· Senior 100 hours Community Service – The 100 service hours are not required for graduation, but if you would like to get 100 volunteer hours it will earn you a white cord for graduation. The 100-hour form can be found on this email and on our RHS counseling website and should be turned into Mrs. Michelle Morris in room 1403. If you are a virtual learner and never on campus you can email them to Michelle Morris michelle.morris@rockwallisd.org
· Letters of recommendation – Do you need your counselor to write a letter of recommendation for your College Application? Please send your counselor and email with a list of clubs, activities, awards, or any other important information you would like included in your letter. Please plan ahead as letters typically take 7-10 days to fulfill.
· College Night is Monday, September 14th, 6:00 to 8:00 PM - All Rockwall ISD students are welcome to attend to learn more about the college admission process and the post-secondary opportunities available to them. In addition to meeting directly with representatives from colleges from across the country, students from all three Rockwall ISD high schools can uncover new college options, experience virtual campus tours, watch videos and download materials, and schedule individual interviews and meetings with admissions representatives.
o In order to access the virtual content, students are required to register. Click Here to Register Registration ends on Monday, September 14.
· Please watch the attached video and view the Senior tips handout from our district Social Worker, Missy Wall. Ms. Wall is a vital part of our counseling team and provides resources, supplies, social/emotional support and counseling to our students at Rockwall High School who need her assistance.
· What are your plans after high school? If you need help please see our College and Career counselor Ms. Shirley Wilson. Mrs. Wilson is another vital piece to our counseling team and is available for Zoom meetings Monday - Friday; 8:30am-3:30pm to help students make plans for life after high school.
Email Shirley Wilson, College & Career Counselor, to schedule a Zoom appointment: sswilson@collin.edu
College Exploration & Application Process: Navigating College Choice
o College Readiness – Are you on track?
o Selecting a College—What should you consider?
o Paying for College—Financial Aid/Scholarships
o College Essay/ Letters of Recommendation Assistance
o Academic Advising
Career Exploration: Find Your Career Path
o Career Tools—Interest and Ability Assessment
o Career Pathways – Job Training/ Education – Military
o Job Skills—Job Search, Resume Building, & Certificates
· Scholarships and Financial Aid – The websites below are a great place to start searching for scholarships. Our local scholarship application will be available for download on the RISD website February 1st 2021. The attached Quick guide to Financial aid is a great resource to understanding how financial aid works. Remember the FAFSA will open up OCTOBER 1, 2020 and you will need to apply ASAP!
o Fastweb Free Scholarship Matching Service: www.fastweb.com
o FinAid’s Scholarships Section: www.finaid.org/scholarships
o Search for Scholarships on the Web: www.finaid.org/websearch
o Beware of Scholarship Scams: www.finaid.org/scholarshipscams and www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams
o Education Tax Benefits: www.finaid.org/taxbenefits and www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf
o Federal Student Financial Aid: www.fafsa.ed.gov
· College Commitment – Once you make your FINAL decision on what college or university you will be attending bring that one acceptance letter into the counseling center and we will get your picture taken to place in our RHS Commitment Wall. This includes all Military as well.
· Senior Checklist - Senior year is often an extremely busy time with schoolwork, activities, and special events. Get organized, be aware of deadlines, and do not procrastinate. Print off the attached Senior checklist to be sure to stay on track this year!
· Important Senior announcements can be found on the RHS Senior website here: https://www.rockwallisd.com/domain/2461
· And finally, here are a few tips from your RHS Counselors as you prepare to launch into the world:
o Remember that you always have a choice. No matter what the situation.
o Be brave enough to say I’m sorry, or I love you, or I forgive you.
o Success is not measured by your job, your education, how much money you have or what kind of car you drive. Success is determined by who you are, how you treat others and how you lead your life.
o Show gratitude to all of those people who have gotten you to where you are today.
o Don’t look down on anyone unless you are helping them up.
o Confidence, combined with a passion to make the world a better place, can be a very positive force.
o Surround yourself with people who remind you of how amazing you are, and avoid the ones that don’t.
o Life doesn’t always follow the plans you have made out for yourself. Be prepared for highs and lows. Celebrate the highs and ask for help during the lows.
o Be kind. Be kind. Be kind. ♥
Katie Duran
Lead Counselor
Rockwall High School
Please Wear Your ID
Students are required to wear IDs as well as face masks to school every day. Your student's ID was issued during Jacket Walkabout as well as lunches during the first and second week of school. Wearing a mask and ID is a high priority issue to ensure a safe 20-21 school year. We have modified our student ID process to minimize student/staff exposure.
Starting September 7, any student without a student ID will have a new one printed for $5 in their grade level Assistant Principal’s office. The student will have the option of paying for the ID or having it entered as an obligation. Parents will be notified via email of the failure to wear ID and obligation.
Better Together Information
Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) & Headphones
Please bring personal headphones to use with technology.
Bring your own water bottle.
Student Pick-Up & Drop Off
Follow me on Twitter for information or check out campus website.
@Rockwall_HS