ROCKLAND HIGH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year!

Students and staff returned to school after the break for a very short week. This newsletter will be brief but there are few items to share.

Midterm exams for all full-year and semester courses begin on Friday, January 17, and conclude on Thursday, January 23. Term 3 will begin on Friday, January 24, as Day 1. If a snow day occurs during the midterm week, everything will get pushed back a day.

Term 2 and midterm grades will be available for full-year courses by Thursday, January 30. For semester courses, term 2, final exam, and semester final grades will also be available by Tuesday, January 30.

Midterm Guidelines:

1. Midterm exams will count 10% toward a final course average and will be displayed on the report card.

2. All students should be in school for an exam for all classes during midterm exam week, except when they have their scheduled directed study, senior privilege, or work study.

3. In between the exam periods is the lunch period. During lunch, students will report to a specific class for a directed study (see schedule). Students will have a directed study for this period (teachers may review for their exam with students during this time). Students will not be permitted to go to the gym or library for their directed studies on these dates. Students will not be dismissed for the directed study and then return to school for their afternoon exam (except in the case of an excused appointment).

4. Students who do not have morning exams because they have an assigned scheduled directed study may arrive at school late for an 11:00 AM start but are expected to report to the directed study during the lunch period for attendance. Any student arriving after 11:00 AM must 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 at 12:30 PM. In rare instances, a student who does not have an afternoon exam may leave before 12:30 PM, and a dismissal note is required. No students are allowed to get dismissed and go out to lunch and then return for their afternoon exam.

5. 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 be issued a pass from an administrator to bring to the teacher and the make-up exam. Make-up Exams must be taken by Friday, January 24. The administrator will tell the teacher where and when the student will take the make-up exam.

1/6 - Department Head meeting, 2:50 PM

1/8 - RHS Crisis Team meeting, 9:20 AM

1/9 - Dog Block, 10:42 - 11:28 AM

1/14 - Senate Leadership Council meeting, 7:30 AM

1/15 - College Admissions Night, 6:30 PM

1/16 - Early Release PD Day, 11:25 AM dismissal

1/17-1/22 - Mid-term exams

1/20 - No school, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/23 - Term 2 grades close, semester 1 ends

1/24 - Term 3 begins

1/28 - Site Council meeting, 7:30 AM

1/30 - Term 2 grades available in Aspen (afternoon)

The Travel Club will have an informational meeting about the April 2027 tour of Berlin, Krakow, Budapest and Prague on Thursday, January 9 at 7 pm in room 121 of Rockland High School. Interested freshmen and sophomore students and their families should RSVP here or email advisor Kristen Walsh at kwalsh@rocklandschools.org with questions.

Link to RSVP- https://bit.ly/3ORIHQK

JUNIORS

College Search and Admissions Night is planned for Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30 PM in the lecture hall. Please plan to attend this informational evening!

SENIORS

The FAFSA should be filed by any student planning to attend a four-year college, a two-year or community college, or an accredited trade/technical school.

Have you already filed the FAFSA? If so - great job! What Happens After I file the FAFSA

If you haven’t filed yet, are you and your contributor(s) ready to complete the 2025–2026 FAFSA® form? You will each need your own StudentAid.gov account to complete the FAFSA form. Get started here.

Assessing Sore Throats

Sore throats can be caused by a number of factors including bacterial infection (like strep), viral infection (like a cold), dry air, pollutants like smoke or allergies. Your sore throat may be accompanied by a runny nose, watery eyes, cough, sneezing or fever (temp over 100.4).

Some of the signs of strep throat will be visible. They may include white patches on the tonsils or throat, dark red spots on the roof of the mouth, and a skin rash. Some patients may exhibit swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck and/or a fever above 101-102 F. The signs and symptoms are the same for both children and adults.

Although these things may indicate strep, a visit to the doctor is necessary to make a full determination. A full diagnosis is impossible by visual signs alone.

Strep should be treated with antibiotics to prevent transmission to others and potential complications like rheumatic fever.

Sometimes home remedies do a good job of easing sore throat pain and discomfort. Here are a few home remedies:

• Gargle salt water: Stir 1/2 tsp of salt into 1 cup of warm water. You can gargle this salt water solution several times a day. This helps loosen mucus and draws excess fluid out of your inflamed throat tissue.

• Throat lozenges: over-the-counter throat lozenges and hard candy can help ease the pain.

• Tea with honey: Honey has been shown to relieve throat irritation, and hot water from a mild tea can do the same.

• Use a humidifier or vaporizer to keep winter air from getting too dry

• Over the counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen

Even if it’s not strep, you may need to see a doctor for relief. It’s time to see the doctor if your symptoms:

• Worsen with home treatment

• last longer than a week

• keep coming back

• make your voice hoarse for more than two weeks

• cause dehydration

• worry you in some other way

Updated stories are available in The Veritas.

School Website

Aspen Student & Family Portal

Arbiter Live- Athletic Schedules

Breakfast & Lunch Menus

As we start the new year and wrap up term 2, I encourage students to commit to finishing strong. Midterms are coming up in a few weeks and the process of preparing for them will be starting in the next couple of weeks. Use the resources teachers provide to prepare. And remember, teachers are available after school most days for extra help.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Schipper

Principal