RRHS Update Week of 11/22
Warm Wishes and Thank You!
On behalf of the RRHS faculty and staff, we would like to thank you to our PTSO and parent volunteers for hosting a wonderful Thanksgiving luncheon. Our staff enjoyed taking time for the very best food and opportunity for fellowship and relaxation.
Canned Food Drive
CANNED FOOD DRIVE- CAN THE TEACHER- ENDS MONDAY!
Monday is the last day to bring in canned food/unperishable items. The items should be placed in one of the boxes in the cafeteria. The boxes are labeled with a teacher’s name. The teacher with the most cans in his/her box will wear a turkey costume on Tuesday. Please also write your grade on each item you donate. The grade with the most items donated will win spirit points. Currently Mr. Clear is in the lead with the most cans, and seniors are in the lead. Ms. Whittington is in second, and Mr. Schamus is in third. All items will be donated to the Loudoun food pantry after Thanksgiving to help replenish their supply. Please bring in any items on Monday!
This Week in Athletics
Monday 11/22/21
Girls Basketball vs. Fauquier, 5:30/7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 12/1/21
Boys Basketball @ Potomac Falls, 5:45/5:45/7:00 p.m. Bus departs at 4:15 p.m.
JV/Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Potomac Falls, 5:45/7:00 p.m.
9th Girls Basketball vs. Freedom, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday 12/2/21
9th Boys Basketball @ Gainesville, 5:00 p.m. Early Release @ 3 p.m. Bus departs at 3:!5 p.m.
JV Wrestling @ Broad Run, 6 p.m. Bus departs at 4:15 p.m.
Friday 12/3/21
Boys Basketball vs. Stone Bridge, 5:45/5:45/7:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball @ Stone Bridge, 5:45/5:45/7:00 p.m. Bus departs at 4:15 p.m.
Saturday 12/4/21
Wrestling @ Loudoun County Duals, 9:00 a.m. Bus departs at 6:30 a.m.
Indoor Track @ Lightridge, 9:00 a.m. Bus departs at 6:30 a.m.
Senior Ads and Yearbook Sales
SENIOR ADS ON SALE NOW- SPACE IS LIMITED- DUE BY DEC. 3
Want the perfect way to showcase those baby pictures you’ve been saving and let your senior know how proud of them you are? Place a senior/baby ad in this year’s yearbook to commemorate all their hard work and success!
Ad space is available now and must be purchased online. Parents can go to www.yearbookforever.com to choose their ad size, upload their pictures and message, and pay for the ad. The yearbook staff will design the ad and send parents a proof. Ad space is limited and available on a first-come, first serve basis. Once the ads are sold out, we cannot accommodate any more. Over 60% of ad space is already sold. Ads are due by Dec. 3.
YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW- ALMOST 50% SOLD!
Save $10 and buy your yearbooks 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.
Senior Fees!
The Payment Portal for Senior Fees is now open.
Each student is requested to pay $80 to cover Graduation Costs which includes the Cap and Gown.
There is an option to donate additional money to help cover unforeseen costs and to assist those in financial hardship. Just press the drop down to select an amount to donate.
If you need further help or information, please contact liz.grainger@lcps.org
Flu, Allergies, or COVID?
Is it a cold, the flu, allergies or COVID?
This question is hard to answer as all the above share similar symptoms. Parents if your student has any of the following symptoms please do not send them to school!! For the safety of all students, faculty and staff please have them tested for COVID-19, rapid test, at home test or PCR test, keep them home and isolated for 10 days or they have an alternate diagnosis from a health care professional.
· fever 100.4 or greater
· Cough
· Sore throat
· Nausea/vomiting
· Headaches
· Runny nose/congestion
· Loss of taste and/or smell
· Diarrhea
· Shortness of breath
· Stomachache
Please email me the results of COVID test or doctors note with alternate diagnosis.
If your student exhibits any of the above symptoms siblings, that are not fully vaccinated, should also remain home. Please contact me with any questions or concerns; 703-996-2106 or robyn.wisti@lcps.org
Let’s keep everyone safe and healthy this school year
Special PTSO News!
THANK YOU PARENT VOLUNTEERS!
Rock Ridge staff were treated to a Thanksgiving feast supported in part by the PTSO along with dishes prepared by the staff to share. Someone’s grandma’s mac & cheese was certainly a big hit! Thank you so much to Lisa LaBianca & Toni Harris who helped coordinate the PTSO’s involvement with Dianne Mercil in support of this special event! You ladies ROCK! And of course, thank you as well to the myriad of parent volunteers who helped serve food throughout the event and shared warm sentiments of appreciation with the staff. We couldn’t have done it without you!
PTSO MONTHLY MEETINGS
Virtual meetings, held the 1st Wednesday of the month from 7 – 8 PM.
- Next meeting: December 1st – click here to join virtually
Add meetings to your calendar – Click Here. (This does not obligate you to attend although always welcome.)
STAY CONNECTED
- Follow us to stay in the know and keep up with events on Facebook, Instagram, Remind, and our website.
- Click here for other ways to connect with us and to get involved!
- Compliments, Concerns, Questions, Ideas/Suggestions or other Feedback always welcome! Contact Tiffany Ahmed at President@rrhsptso.org.
HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
Happy Thanksgiving!
The PTSO wishes all of Rock Ridge students, families, staff, and community a joyous and plentiful Thanksgiving! Enjoy time with family and friends and know we are incredibly grateful for YOU!
During this special time, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect upon that for which you are grateful in your life. In the words of Alan Cohen, “Gratitude, like faith, is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it grows, and the more power you have to use it on your behalf. If you do not practice gratefulness, its benefaction will go unnoticed, and your capacity to draw on its gifts will be diminished. To be grateful is to find blessings in everything. This is the most powerful attitude to adopt, for there are blessings in everything.”
Happy Hannukah!
The PTSO wishes those families celebrating Hannukah following the Thanksgiving break, a Happy Hannukah! May this special festival of lights be filled with peace and joy for your family!
School Counseling News
SOS Signs of Suicide Program
To increase awareness of the signs of depression and suicide risk, Rock Ridge High School will be implementing the SOS Signs of Suicide Program to 9th and 10th grade students. The program educates students by helping teens understand the connection between untreated mental illness and suicide and by teaching students how to deal with these signs as a mental health emergency. This program aims to generate discussion about identifying and responding to signs of depression and suicide. The program will be facilitated by school psychologists, school social worker, school counselors, and student assistance specialists.
If you would like to opt your 9th or 10th grade student OUT of participating in the Signs of Suicide presentation, please complete the permission click at this link: https://permission.click/ZqMLA/us
Seniors Keep up the good work!!! 72% of our senior class has applied to college. Our goal is 80% by winter break!!! It is not too late and there is a college for everyone!!! December 1st and December 15th are the next big set of deadlines.
U of Mary Washington On Site Admissions - Seniors, if interested in applying to the U of Mary Washington you can apply early action and then get an in person decision at Rock Ridge on 11/30. If interested, please sign up here. If you want to know more about the on site admissions process or interested in an application fee waiver, please see Mrs. Barnes in the Career Center.
Seniors know your College’s Scholarships and other Financial Aid deadline:
Penn State recently sent out a note to students applying saying this:
The FAFSA opened on October 1, with a priority filing date of December 1. And though this is the primary tool Penn State uses to award financial aid, there are other specialized scholarship deadlines for students and families to keep in mind. If students want to be considered for the Schreyer Honors College or Millenium Scholars Program, they must submit their applications by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on December 6. Other dates and deadlines for college-specific scholarships can be found on our Office of Student Aid website.
Please check the colleges you have applied to make certain you are not missing any priority Financial Aid/Scholarship deadlines.
United States Coast Guard Academy Visits 11/22 at noon
Sophomores & Juniors, this is a special visit from one of our RRHS alumni who is a 4th year cadet at the Academy. He is also the son of Mr. Kim(also a Coast Guard Academy Graduate), one of our wonderful Social Science teachers. If you are interested in any military academy, this would be a great visit to attend to learn about admissions, summer programs and life at an academy. You can learn more about the USCG here.
Sophomores and Juniors, the Summer Residential Governor's School application is finally open! Here is a direct link to the VDOE website and applications for each program. Applications are due Dec 1st to the counseling office.
Applications & Resource Materials
Please note that each program has a unique application.
§ 2022 Application for Agriculture (Word)
§ 2022 Application for Engineering (Word)
§ 2022 Application for Humanities (Word)
§ 2022 Application for Marine Science (Word)
§ 2022 Application for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (Word)
§ 2022 Application for Medicine and Health Sciences (Word)
§ 2022 Application for Visual and Performing Arts (Word)
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/summer_residential/
Colleges to Know
Hendrix College https://www.hendrix.edu/
Hendrix has a number of unique programs of study. Their Pre-Professional programs in Engineering, Law, Foreign Service and Medicine are the best in the nation. For example, Henrix graduates’ acceptance rate at law schools stands at over 87% and the acceptance rate to medical schools is 89%, nearly twice the national average. At Hendrix you don’t just take notes and take tests. You learn to take chances and to make the whole world your classroom. The Hendrix Odyssey program ensures every student has more opportunity and more support for hands-on learning experiences than at any other institution. We strongly encourage study abroad, service projects, internships, undergraduate research and more. That’s engaged learning at Hendrix.
Please check Mrs. Barnes’ Friday e-mail/Smore for more Counseling information. There are a large number of college visits coming up so Juniors and Seniors please attend as your schedule permits for the colleges you have an interest in.