Rock Ridge Phoenix
Week of February 10, 2020
This Week in Athletics
Monday February 10th
JV/Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Stone Bridge, 5:45/7:00 p.m.
9th/JV/Varsity Boys Basketball @ Stone Bridge, 5:45/5:45/7:00 p.m. 9th/JV Bus departs at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday February 13th
JV/Varsity Girls Basketball @ Riverside, 5:45/7:00 p.m. Bus departs at 4:15 p.m.
9th/JV/Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Riverside, 5:45/5:45/7:00 p.m.
Saturday February 15th
Region Wrestling @ Freedom, 10 a.m. Bus departs at 6:30 a.m.
SPRING TRYOUTS ARE COMING - FEBRUARY 24th!
SCHOOL COUNSELING
On Monday and Tuesday during 1st and 5th students will be asked to enter StudentVue to make their elective choices for next year. Here us the updated video link for using StudentVue for course selections.
youtu.be
This week counselors will be in the Junior history classes to go over choosing courses and planning for the Senior year and beyond. The junior academic advising portal will be open on the RRHS website for students to schedule their junior meetings on February 24th. Juniors will be able start their individual meetings the week of March 9th. Juniors will review their graduation requirements and course work for the upcoming year and their postsecondary plan.
Later in February and the first weeks of March counselors will be meeting with the 9th and 10th grade students during PE to go over course selections and planning for high school and beyond.
Any student who wishes to make changes following this during scheduling will have access to the forms to request a change from a teacher recommended class and/or elective. Forms will be available in the counseling office.
Current Juniors Please Note: If you took the PSAT and did not opt in to be part of the Nation Merit Scholarship Program you will not be considered. Please check your PSAT Score Report for this information.
If any of your responses to NMSC’s “Entry Requirements” questions are inaccurate or there has been a change in plans that may affect program entry, write immediately to:
National Merit Scholarship Corporation Attn: Scholarship Administration 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200 Evanston, IL 60201-4897 Include your name and home address along with your high school name, address, and six-digit code number.
For more information go to www.nationalmerit.org.
Colleges to Know: Elizabeth City State University.
Elizabeth City is ranked #12 Best HBCU in the Nation College Consensus pulls together data from numerous college ranking sites, including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal and combines those results with the most reputable student reviews. Currently ECSU offers 28 baccalaureate, professional, and 4 master's degrees for a diverse student body. We achieve our commitment to the highest quality education by maintaining a rigorous focus on academic excellence through liberal arts programs and using innovative and flexible technology-based instruction models to enhance our signature areas: integrating technology with education, improving human health and wellness, and advancing the natural and aviation sciences.
Elizabeth City State University As a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, Elizabeth City State University offers baccalaureate, professional, and master's degrees for a diverse student body. Our mission is to promote economic, social, and environmental progress for the people of northeastern North Carolina, the state, and the nation.
RRHS PTSO - SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS!
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 5th at 7pm in the RRHS Library
**Meetings are held on the 1st Thursdays of every month at 7pm in the RRHS Library**
RRHS PTSO 2ND ANNUAL BINGO NIGHT - Join us for fun, prizes and food. More details to come soon!
When: Saturday, February 29th
Where: Rock Ridge High School
Rock Ridge High School's PTSO is looking for donations for our 2nd Annual BINGO Night. Prize items such as gift baskets, merchandise and gift cards are much-needed and greatly appreciated! Proceeds from this event directly benefit the PTSO, which supports the many extra-curricular and educational clubs and groups at Rock Ridge HS; Teacher Appreciation Week, the Annual All-Night Post-Graduation party for seniors and senior scholarships.
Your business will be recognized in appreciation with a feature on our Facebook page and appear on a slideshow that will run continuously throughout the BINGO event!
Thank you for your generosity and continued support of RRHS and the PTSO!
SPIRIT NIGHT – PANERA!
Bring your family and support the RRHS PTSO by joining us at PANERA!
When: Thursday, February 27th; 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: 43670 Greenway Corporate Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147
Bring the attached flyer, or show an electronic version, to the cashier when you place your order and a portion of the proceeds from your purchase will be donated to the PTSO.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
The PTSO is looking for parents to help with Teacher Appreciation Week (first full week in May)! We'll need volunteers to help plan all the events (at least one a week for the whole week), to help with fundraising and donations and general support for the week. Whether you have an hour to give, or the whole week, there is a spot for your help! The faculty at Rock Ridge is exceptional and the PTSO strives to show them how much they are appreciated but WE NEED YOU! Please email the PTSO board if you are interested: bod@rrhsptso.com
MEMBERSHIP
For the PTSO to fund all the events and activities that benefit our RRHS Students, Faculty and Staff; we need your help! Please consider joining the PTSO today.
Family membership dues are only $30. Faculty membership dues are only $10. Please click here to sign up and pay for membership online: https://www.lcps.org/Page/195605. You can also pay for membership by logging on to the LCPS online payment portal: https://osp.osmsinc.com/LoudounVA/BVModules/CategoryTemplates/Detailed%20List%20with%20Properties/Category.aspx?categoryid=DB106.
Don't forget to link your Harris Teeter grocery store card! It's free and easy - all you have to do is send your name and phone number (or store rewards number) to bod@rrhsptso.com. By linking your rewards cards and accounts, a portion of all of your grocery store purchases will benefit RRHS PTSO. (Tell grandparents and family members, too! We can link any and all family members.)
Help us reach our goal of 100% membership this year!
SENIORS!
SENIOR BREAKFAST
We have our third Senior Breakfast on Friday February 14th. Show your love for our seniors by donating items to the Sign Up Genius.
If you'd like to donate money, please use the Paypal pool (https://paypal.me/pools/c/8iz34PJ0o1), send via Venmo to @Ellen-Buermeyer, or drop off a check (made out to Ellen Buermeyer) or Harris Teeter gift cards to Liz Grainger in the counseling office. Thanks to everyone who has helped so far!
Please spread the news to make this a fun celebration. We will also reveal the poll winner for the Senior Trip destination.
SENIOR DUES
Thank you to the 90.8% families who have completed their Senior Dues obligation. The dues pay for many aspects of graduation and are an important part of the Senior Year.
If you have not yet paid please pay at the Payment Portal or contact Liz.Grainger@lcps.org to help you facilitate this.
RRHS _ WINGS!
Come out and support the Rock Ridge WINGS program by dining at Chick Fil A from 5-8 on Wednesday, February 12 (Chick Fil A next to Round Robin).
SEAL OF BILITERACY
Attention Juniors and Seniors!
SEAL OF BILITERACY
Registration window: February 18-28
The Seal of Biliteracy is a State-recognized credential of proficiency in a language other than English. In addition to the academic and personal benefits of multilingualism, the SoB provides graduates with a certification to stand out in a globalized world. Seniors are eligible to graduate with this honor on their diplomas upon meeting an approved measure of proficiency. To facilitate eligibility, the Department of World Languages and Cultures offers both written and oral assessments in over 50 languages (including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai). To view a full list of languages, please see the Testing Registration Form. The registration window will be open from February 18th- February 28th and testing will take place on March 17th during the school day. To pay for an assessment, please use the Rock Ridge Payment Portal. If you have questions, please email World Languages and Cultures Department Chair Wesleigh Mellott (wmellott@lcps.org).
CAREER CENTER NEWS!
Upcoming RRHS Visitors & Events
2/12: US Marine Corp – During A Lunch
Please sign up for all visits via Naviance which is on LCPSGo. As a reminder, your classwork is your priority.
2020-2021 Course Selection Process: Counselors will be in the 9th & 10th grade Health & PE classes the week of March 2nd through March 6 to meet individually with students to complete scheduling and review the 4 year course plan.
The junior academic advising portal will be open on the RRHS website for students to schedule their junior meetings on February 24th. Juniors will be able start their individual meetings the week of March 9th. Juniors will review their graduation requirements and course work for the upcoming year.
Any student who wishes to make changes following this process will have access to the forms to request a change from a teacher recommended class and/or elective. Forms will be available in the counseling office.
News You Can Use
Juniors – The Common App Essay prompts for 2020-2021 will remain the same as this year. Learn more here.
2/18: On February 24, Nobel-prize winning chemical engineer Frances Arnold will deliver a talk, “Innovation by Evolution: Bringing New Chemistry to Life,” at 7:00 p.m. at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus. In this talk, Dr. Arnold talks about her work on enzymes called catalysts – molecules that speed up chemical reactions – and how her team at Caltech uses the most powerful biological design process, evolution, to optimize existing enzymes and invent new ones. If interested, please email me (mary.barnes@lcps.org) and provide your NON LCPS email address.
Seniors – As your decision letters (accepted or denied) come in please send me a copy or drop off a copy in the Career Center. Having your decision letters will help ensure the validity of the Scattergrams for future classes. In addition, if you received merit, athletic or talent scholarships with your acceptance, please share that information with me too. We are required to report all scholarship money offered to LCPS. I really appreciate your help with this request!
2/19: Applications are still open for Monroe Advanced Technical Academy (MATA) or the Advanced Engineering & Technology (AET) for the Fall of 2020. You can apply here.
There are parent information sessions about the admissions cycles at the following high schools. You are welcome to attend any session.
Date Location Time
Thursday, February 13, 2020 Briar Woods HS 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
SAT & Act Practice Tests – This is a GREAT way to see where you might need some additional help without the cost. The $15 fee goes entirely to the RRHS PTSO so it’s a win-win!
Revolution Prep ACT – 2/8/20 This is a reschedule from the 1/18 snow day. Walk-ins welcome.
ASVAB – (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) – This test is scheduled at multiple high school locations over the next few months. You can register here.
Summer Programs
2/14: Girls Who Code Summer Program
2/15: Deadline for UVA Summer Enrichment Program
4/1: Rising Juniors and Seniors, VT Black College Institute applications are now open. These 3 and 5 day summer programs are free to participants. You can learn more and register here.
4/16: The Virginia Latino Higher Education Network’s Hispanic College Institute (HCI) is a free 4-day, overnight program that gives you the opportunity to learn about the college admissions process while meeting Latinx professionals and engaging with Latinx college students from all over our Commonwealth.
Spring Open Houses
2/17, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10 & 4/17: Case Western Open Houses
2/17: Discover Maryland
2/17 & 4/10: U of Mary Washington Open Houses
3/14: CNU Open House
3/21 & 3/22: VT Open Houses
4/4: UVA Engineering Open House
4/18: ODU Open House
Upcoming Local Events
3/11: Rock Ridge High School Summer Job Fair – over 40 businesses will be on hand to accept applications for summer jobs and a few for long term careers. Please review the attached flyer for a sampling of businesses attending. (If you manage a business and would like to participate, please reach out to me.)
3/18: Junior College Panel at John Champe High School. See attached flyer.
3/18: Northern Virginia Community College is hosting a Career Exploration Fair for high school students to explore CTE and STEM programs and certifications. The fair will include an overview of enrollment, programs of study, and student services. Advance registration is required at career.novastem.us/explore by February 28, 2020.
3/21: “Rise to Know” Summit at Rock Ridge. This is the second year led by Jessica Berg. It’s an inspiring and empowering day. Come hear from amazing women such as author Amy Reed, Commonwealth’s Attorney: Buta Buberaj, Board of Supervisors Chair: Phyllis Randall, Delegate: Suhas Subramanyam (D-87th District) and many more. This is a free event but please register here.
4/1: Northern Virginia Regional College Fair
4/19: Baltimore/Greater Washington STEM College & Career Fair. Register here.
4/29: Military Fair at Independence High School. All branches, the Academies and ROTC programs will be represented. This event is open 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
FAQs
How does my student receive this newsletter?
Your student automatically receives this email through their LCPS email which is their StudentID@lcps.org. They can access this email through Google Mail on their Chromebook
Where can I find part time jobs?
Part time jobs are available – swing by the Career Center and check out all the fliers. Most have a minimum age of 16 but we do have two for 15 year old’s. We also have a part time job fair on March 11th. See attached flyer as noted above.
Need Volunteer Hours? – See the attached flyer for an opportunity.
Need a prom dress? Prom is April 17th. There are many Prom Boutiques set up now through then. See attached flyer for more information.
Attachments:
2020VolunteerOp.docx
WGB Prom Boutique 2020 2.pdf
JCHScollege admissions panel.JPG
2020 Job Fair Flyer.pdf