Happy Friday, RMHS Students & Families,

This past week, the golf team wrapped up another season with Sam Kesterson making his way to the state level of competition this past Tuesday. Sam and Ben Sperry ended the week at the CAL Open where they represented Rockport as the top two golfers on the Vikings team. We are so proud of them for making Rockport proud with their skill and class on the course. Congrats to the entire Vikings team for a great season!

The 8th grade leaders traveled to NH for a NELMS leadership workshop this past Wednesday where they connected with leaders across the region on ways to make an impact within their local communities. We will celebrate and honor the collective accomplishments of our students this coming Tuesday at our first 6-12 pep rally of the year on Tuesday! Please see the list below for a more detailed look at the week ahead...🎉

-Ms. Rose

Amy Rose, Principal

Tuesday, October 22nd: 6-12 Pep Rally in the GYM during Assembly

Wednesday, October 23rd: PSATs for all students in grades 10 & 11 (See details from RHS Guidance)

Thursday, October 24th: 8th-Grade Advisory in the AUD (HS Transition)

Friday, October 25th: APUSH Field Trip

Friday, October 25th: MS/HS Music Field Trip to Shalin Liu

Monday, October 28th: Picture Retake Day

Friday, November 1st: End of Q1 - Grades Close

Friday, November 1st & Saturday, November 2nd @ 7:00 pm and November 3rd @ 2:00 pm - RHS Drama Presents Chicago

Friday, November 8th: Report cards available in Aspen

Monday, November 11th: No School (Veteran's Day)

Tuesday, November 19th: Career Day 8:00-10:30

Thursday, November 21st: Orchestra Summit Finale Concert - 6:30pm AUD

Wednesday, November 27th: 1/2 Day before the Thanksgiving Holiday

Tuesday, December 3rd: 1/2 Day for Students

Wednesday, December 11th: RHS Winter Concert - 6:30 Aud

Tuesday, December 17th: RHS Jazz and Small Ensemble Concert - 6:30pm Shalin Liu

Friday, December 20th: 1/2 Day before the Winter Vacation!

Thursday, January 2nd: Welcome Back!

The RMS Ski Club is looking to reimagine its opportunities for our students and needs your help. Please fill out this 2 question survey to help guide the future direction of the club.

RMS Ski Club Survey 2024

Take a Day to Meet and Observe a Professional in a Field of Interest!

• Job Shadow Day will be Monday, January 27th, 2025

• All Students in 11th and 12th grade will explore career or community service

interests

• Students are encouraged to find their own placements; Assistance is available

• Job Shadow Day Proposal is due December 13th, 2024

Questions? See RMHS Capstone Program Coordinator Mr. Vendt evendt@rpk12.org

School Safety Reminder:

The school campus is closed to the public when school is in session and after 10:00pm nightly. This includes the use of the tennis courts, track, playgrounds, athletic fields and all other parts of the campus. This does not include families and community members attending school events in our schools or on our school grounds. We appreciate the community's understanding and support as we continue to prioritize the safety of RPS students and staff.

The seventh-grade team extends a heartfelt gratitude to The Education Foundation for Rockport and the Rockport PTO for their continued generosity toward Rockport Public Schools. Thanks to their financial support, we are excited for our students to engage in Project Adventure, a program designed to promote personal growth, strengthen group unity, and cultivate a school culture rooted in trust and respect. Thank you!

The following letter was sent home to families on October 16, 2024:

Dear 8th Grade Families,

Over the coming weeks, we will begin talking to your children about the transition from middle to high school. Through a series of advisory sessions, we will be encouraging students to think about their future goals and engage in dialogue with staff and upper-class students about their experiences and the opportunities that exist at Rockport High School. We strongly encourage open dialogue about these meetings at home in hopes of providing a full experience for our kids to explore, ask questions, and learn about the next chapter of their educational journey. Ms. Stapleton, RMS Counselor, has been meeting with all 8th graders individually to begin these conversations.

For your informational purposes, we will be hosting the following sessions for 8th graders during the school day:

• Thursday, October 24th: The current 8th graders will meet with select school staff and current high school students to begin exploring the opportunities that exist at the high school level. The session will be an interactive experience for students to ask questions, and learn first-hand about the programs and offerings available at Rockport High School.

• Monday, October 28th: Essex North Shore—Agricultural & Technical School is our public vocational school partner. For that reason, they will come to speak to the 8th graders to provide an opportunity for students to learn more about their vocational and agricultural offerings. They will also provide information about the application process and deadlines at that time. In addition, Essex-Tech will be sending along more information about its programs and application processes to families via email and mail. Students and families should work with Ms. Stapleton on the application process if they are interested.

• Friday, November 1st: The current 8th graders will meet in smaller groups with high school leaders to participate in mock interviews and have the chance to ask more individualized questions after the larger group presentations.

Ms. Stapleton will continue to meet with students and be a resource for families as questions arise about high school. Students will have a chance to learn more about the course offerings and programs through the course selection process that begins in January. Save the Date for the Rockport High School Course Selection Night for families on Thursday, March 6th at 6 pm.

If you have any questions about the transition to high school, feel free to reach out to Ms. Stapleton at cstapleton@rpk12.org. We are committed to working together to create an exciting transition to the final phase of your child’s secondary journey.

Sincerely,

Amy Rose, Principal

We presented the wide variety of student extracurricular offerings at this past week's Assemblies. I've included the slideshow in case students have questions about who to talk to about each club. We encourage families to review the opportunities with their child/ren to encourage them to get involved with something!

RHS Extracurricular Offerings 2024-2025

RMS Extracurricular Offerings 2024-2025

Being in school and on time are extremely important to your child's success. When students attend school regularly and arrive on time, they stay engaged in their learning, build strong relationships, and develop solid study habits. Please help us by making sure your child gets to school on time each day. The cafeteria and library are open at 7:00 am and free breakfast is available in the cafeteria for all students. The main hallways and classrooms open at 7:25 am.

We understand that the transition to a middle/high school this coming year comes with a shift in contact information. To simplify the process for families, we have streamlined all communications to run through the RMHS Main Office. Please use the main number for routine inquiries: 978-546-1234. For a more detailed chart of counselors, and other support personnel, please use the chart below to help navigate our new team of people and systems.

FREE PSAT/NMSQT in school on October 23, 2024, for sophomores and juniors.

• The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered at school on the morning of October 23, 2024, for our current sophomores and juniors. Digital registration will take place beforehand. It is important for students to bring their charged laptops on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to make sure Bluebook App is downloaded and students are registered.

  All tests are in a digital format.

  
  

  To learn more about PSAT: satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/preparing/practice-tests

  
  

  • Juniors are eligible for national scholarships and will be tested separately from sophomores.

  • There is no fee for the PSAT as the Educational Foundation for Rockport (EFR) continues to financially invest in our students’ futures and has generosulsy paid for the CollegeBoard tests. Get involved in the EFR: rockportedfoundation.org

Community Service Opportunities!

Community service is a graduation requirement for all students. Check out your Class Board or Aspen account to see how many community service hours you have earned. Please check the bulletin board outside of Guidance!

Seniors - Class of 2025:

• College admission representatives continue to visit RHS Guidance. The number of students attending so far has been amazing. All Seniors and juniors are welcome, please check with your teachers before attending. The college calendar is posted outside of Guidance. Sign up in Naviance to secure your participation. Coming soon: URI, WPI, UMass Boston, UNH, Mass College of Pharmacy, Stonehill, and many others!

Juniors - Class of 2026:

• Please check your emails to set up your Naviance Registration. A temporary password and link are in your email. Please follow the instructions.

ELECTION NIGHT POSITION:

A great way to earn $85 on Tuesday, November 6th, and be involved in the Electoral process!

Contact jmacklin@edisonresearch.com and please see attached Flyer!!!

Please see the chart below for a breakdown of counseling assignments at the high school level. The alphabet breakdown is based upon student last name:

The Rockport HS DECA chapter is planning Career Day for 11/19/25 from 8-10:30 AM

We are looking for some more presenters and could use any/all career types/Retirees welcome

If interested, please fill out this Google form

https://forms.gle/tsEgDPap4Yr6rf838

Contact Scott Larsen, DECA advisor with questions --slarsen@rpk12.org

Also, the DECA online store closes at the end of this weekend

Shop now before it closes! DECA gets a percentage of every sale

https://rockporthighschoolfall2024.itemorder.com/

The Rockport SEPAC is in need of a revitalization and looking for new members. The SEPAC is a self-governing public body which creates its own by-laws and operational procedures. A SEPAC is different from other parent groups in a school district such as a PTO or School Council – a SEPAC does not represent families from one school, but represents all families of children with disabilities from the entire school district. If you are interested in holding a Board position: Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer or a Board Member at Large position, please send me an email. Just want to be included ? Reach out to be a building representative. Contact Ann-Marie Luster, Interim Director of Student Services to sign up or find out more at aluster@rpk12.org.

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly and to cut down on the paperwork that families need to complete at the beginning of the school year, Rockport Public Schools has revised our school handbooks into one updated online Student and Family District Handbook. This new version is published on our website and allows for easy access to an organized list of procedures, practices, and important information.

Please read and review the handbook using this link: Rockport Public Schools Student and Family District Handbook.

Parents and guardians will need to acknowledge that they have read the handbook through this form: Acknowledgment of Receipt of RPS Student and Family Handbook. This form is also available on the Handbook page of our website. Please complete ONE FORM FOR EACH child you have attending Rockport Schools. For 6th through 12th grade students, you will also be prompted to have your child sign this acknowledgement form.

The Rockport PTO welcomes back all students, families & teachers and hope the year has gotten off to a great start. Please use the membership link below to sign up and pay annual dues. Funds raised by PTO are used for student field trips, teacher requests, PTO events for elementary and middle/high schools and scholarships for graduating seniors.

PTO is also running a Calendar Raffle fundraiser and we would love your support in purchasing raffle chances and selling them! Please see the links below to both the calendar which shows the prizes and instructions on how to purchase and enter the raffle. Thank you for your support!

Link to PTO Membership form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18cvk1Plsa20URoAttdeRwISHaxSXESxTLGF7AMRACpg/edit

Link to PTO Calendar Raffle Doc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KpHHpKBSLTuit0-zZ0a0kiiOdRtgvnDA/view?usp=drive_link

Link to PTO Calendar Raffle instructions

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KOwRwZGaesQ-r_g5uVqOtHcUEx8olQ_j/view?usp=drive_link

Thank you,

Alyssa Teixeira

Treasurer, Rockport PTO

Breakfast is an important way to start a productive day. We encourage all students to arrive early enough to get breakfast before school begins if possible. For those students not able to get to school early on any given day, we will provide a set time in the morning to be sure breakfast is accessible to all. Breakfast and lunch continue to be free for students this year.

• In order to strengthen the home/school partnership at RMHS, we will be providing a number of resources for families to keep you informed of important information and events. Resources will be available on the website by late August and include:

  • The Principal’s page on the RMHS website.

  • The Parent Resource Guidebook that provides answers to the most commonly asked questions.

  • The “RMHS Viking News” emailed to all students and families beginning the first week of school.

  • Your child’s Aspen account and Google Classroom pages for the most up-to-date information within individual classes.

  • Routine email communication for parents to guide and inform important upcoming events, school-related expectations, and/or happenings.

Prom - Friday, May 16th, 2025 @ Spinellis

Senior Showcase: Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 @ Rockport Music Shalin Liu

Senior Banquet - Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ The Elks at Bass Rocks